Pritchard Windsurfing

You're opening a fine can of worms there, Kev. What about boom height? Line length and boom height go together like... horse and carriage, isn't that so?

And don't forget - harness line placement! How far back or how far forward should the lines go?

One more thing to add to the confusion: the two most popular brands known to me (DK and C) do not label their line lengths the same way. 22-inch of one brand is the same length as 26-inch of the other. Ha ha. Who's on first?

thanks kev. interesting

Hi Kevin. Using the elbow measuring system, where does your boom intersect... at the wrist, or closer to your palm? Do you use the same lines for a big race sail as for a small wave sail? BTW - I'm with Bjorn on the line placement. Old school habits :-)

Thanks for the photos. This seems a good topic that comes up often regarding the technicals of the sport. It's interesting to see that three of those pictures are that Chinook adjustable system. I've used it for years and find sea salt jams the buckle. Once set I would guess those guys don't change the length. The Chinook race lines aren't present in the photo's, either. I find the lines of that system jam in the cleat because the line is too narrow making the length of them also hard to adjust.

As to Bjorn's choice Guy Cribb would have a fit.

Concerning Bjoern's harness lines.
Maybe thats why he goes so fast.

OK, so Bjorn's lines are in the last pic, but what about the first three?

I tend to adjust my harness lines a lot - both length and position on the boom. I love the old Windsurfing Hawaii adjustable boom attachments. They allow the lines to be moved on the boom with a flick of the finger but they stay in place once tensioned. I would include a picture but don't know how to do it on this blog. I use 2 of the adjustable attachments and then use my own line.

Does anyone know if these WH lines are still available. They are not the lines with tubing attached.

One is Micah's, the other is Alberto Megatti,.. the other one I dont know.

As for WH, I dont know if they are still making the lines. DaKine makes a pretty good adjustable harnessline, as well as Maui Sails.

I'm with Bjorn on the line placement - why do people like them really close together except for waves where you may be out more than in and want to use more of the boom tubes for hand placements??
love the photos as a compliment to the text BUT as a former pro photog, my strong asthetic regarding photos is that the horizons must be level with the frame level - otherwise the water may run out onto the floor! i like your ideas re composition... and your sailing!