Easier on the kness - mono or multihull?

If you're up to it you could crew a Laser 4000.  Its very much a standing up sort of boat.  You stand whilst you tack and gybe although you see the tentative try and kneel but it doesn't work.  The boom is high so when tacking you come in into a standing position duck under the high boom and walk out onto the rack and out on the wire.

Here's a couple of photos in strong and light winds.

I wonder if, as Ellistine is relatively new to sailing, the problem with his knees could be that he is still "feeling the boat" and tensing his knees more than he would if he were an "old hand".

Either way a cat is easier on the knees and you have to sit with legs relatively straight on a D18 so that you can cleat the traveller with your back foot.

Talking about hiking position, did you meet the student doing some research with his hiking bench at the Dinghy Show in March?
We had to give the bench a try and fill in a questionaire. I don't know what is the outcome of his study, but his hiking bench was far too comfortable for Laser sailors (Or Toppers, for that matter!).

Anyone knows? Is he a forum member? 

I have very fecked knees from a few ski inceidents and find that Hiking is worse than Wiring.  SAiling my Hurricane used to make my knees ache but the mainsheet loads were fairly high.  and the 59 was a "grunty" boat; Don;t get knee ache on the F16. 

I wear knee supports when skiing but don't bother when sailing as you do not get the same shock loads.