The Perching Harness

I think it would be banned in most classes...

I should have known better than to wind jimbo up with my genius. Well what a ringing endorsement, almost 100% of Y&Y forum botherers think it won't work, so what better encouragement?

It came to me in the night, wrestling as I was with the fury of another wasted wait, so until I've actually tried it, it remains a 'what if' . My Facebook tends to be a centre for ironical exchanges with family and friends so not normally to be taken too seriously and is indeed self deprecating at times.

But, this time from my point of view I actually quite like the idea of being back linked to the boom where I feel at home. What's the worse that can happen? A gust? Just sheet out like usual. A lull would be more problematic if you're hiking out and get caught but isn't that what the footstraps are for? (I've changed them by the way they were mid refurb when I shot that hence having to be shin straps.

I'm also desperate to figure out a system so I can gybe like normal, all this crash duck gybing, it's so tense and this might help. I can rig the gnav internally on the boom, maybe run the control in parallel to the mainsheet. The Cunningham would have also to be fixed to the mast or boom base in order to let the boom swing right round, all that remains is a means of reliable retrieval of the harness chicken loop (It's a kite system, not quick release at this stage, but could be).

Oh and I said I was thinking of giving up sailing, not sailing forums, don't know where you'd ever get that idea from.

So lets revisit the features and benefits of this.

1)Direct boom control for better feeling
2)Less strain by upper body support
3)Quicker sheeting response time using body and normal sheeting to reduce time to sheet in and out if necessary.
4)Better gust response, lean in = sheet out, lean out sheet further in without needing to adjust by sheet hand.
5) Revert to normal option. If it's too light/gusty/strong, just clip the chicken loop to a central position or traveller and you're back to normal.

What could possibly go wrong?

PS Any use by Merlins would see an instant recourse to law, the patent is pending.

Well we did have plans for 'Trevs Handle' which frankly if it helped keep him on the water without too much discomfort I'd be happy to fit to an icon, but his back is screwed for the rest of the season hopefully he'll be back for next.

The thing folk so often forget and is a serious failing in dinghy world with its rules and regs, we are supposed to be doing this for fun, it's our leisure time, if I get to enjoy my eccentricities then so what?
It's OK for some 'for profit' outfit to handicap a boat I wanted, but it's not OK for me to handicap myself?

It's not doing y'all any harm, not that you'd think it with some of the vitriol back there, honestly some of you do come across as such lame t**sers at times, nasty people, who would want to enjoy themselves in your company?


Edited by iGRF - 23 Sep 14 at 1:08pm

Hmm, didn't just think for a bit that calling absolutely everyone who sails dinghies 'not as bright as the rest of us' delivered whilst seated in a dingy, might just be a tad ironical? Not a hint in the voice? No ? - Nevermind, hows the weather up there?

Oh and the title of the device? Personal Inboard Sheeting System? Does it not qualify for the Edinburgh defence if I need it to?

Edited by iGRF - 23 Sep 14 at 2:36pm

Clipping yourself into a dinghy from the boom to the chest?  What could possibly. Go wrong?  Probably nothing right up to the moment you capsize.