My son is about to resume his windsurfing. He hasn't used a harness before but is ready.
When learning to use the harness, would you recommend he get used to the harness first, then try footstraps, or learn both together?
Start with long lines and go shorter, or use lines the right length from the start?
hi windxtasy,
as long as his stance is good it's time to try out the harness.
a waist harness is best for learning.
i would try harness first and then footstraps. the harness will allow him to extend his sessions.
lines at correct length also (ie. long), it is a little harder to hook in but it will make it easier to unhook and force him to hang out to maintain the correct stance. his arms should be straight when in the sailing stance.
depends on what gear he is on but you will most likely start with the boom around shoulder height. as his confidence grows and he moves back into the straps you will need to raise the boom a little to prevent the board from rounding up.
once he is ready for the straps he should use the front foot strap first.
I'd say harness before footstraps (you need to learn how to control a catapult without breaking an ankle)
Correct length from the start.
Good luck with it 
[Edit: Looks like you beat me to it Gestalt! ]
take the fin out of board plug the sail in and let him use foot straps and harness together ... move the board around ...( upwind,downwind) let him get a feel for it all
Put the footstraps at the most inboard position you can. Get him some long harness lines and/or a waist harness and he should be able to harness in while in the normal sub-planing stance. This setup makes it easy to learn footstraps and harness at the same time.
To help prevent catapulting when you are hooked-in but out of the foot straps, brace your front foot against the mast base.
Catapults unfortunately are part of the learning process. Time to buy that nose protector I think.
Unsure if it is best way but I originally got used to the harness in non-planing speeds (without footstraps). At these speeds catapults are pretty soft. Biggest risk is harness hook into sail. If he is planing, out of footstraps could get nasty.
Thanks everyone.
Interesting range of opinions, and I suspect they are all right!
The idea of taking the fin out is interesting, why did that get red thumbed?
Doesn't it work?
Don't forget to make him aware he will be trapped under the sail at least once, hooked in. That's always fun. Best do some controlled, panic-free demos in shallow water first.
^^
the board needs the fin for tracking ability. most beginners boards have soft rails and rely on the fin or centreboard to balance against the sail and drive the board forward.
Even swimming towards the top of the sail when stuck underneath tends to panic a newby. Get to practice and verbalize a release drill like when skydiving, I reckon.
"Grab hook, pull lines down, release forward" or whatever..
Typical beginner situation- can't unhook as board heading up, backwinded sail rotates and twists lines, sailor underneath with board upside down on top. Not funny.
And just how does that qualify for a red thumb?
An expert windsurfer and professional instructor expressing his personal opinion (which happens to be in line with the line taken by the largest windsurf training organisation in the world) in a reasoned argument is not suitable for a red thumb.
If you don't agree, then that's fine, but don't red thumb something like that.
[Edit: thanks to whoever gave me a green thumb to cancel out that red. Point still stands though.]
i took away the red thumb flicky,
i was an instructor for 4 years so i agree with what you have said.
I green thumbed your comment, but red-thumbed your reaction to the red thumb : )
So there is honestly no mention of how to react when trapped under a sail during training? It does seem odd as it is probably about the only dangerous aspect of the sport, alongside collisions with others and obtstacles.
And experts and professionals aside most of us recall being trapped or still ocassionally do get trapped under the sail. It's only for a moment but usually happens when you are overpowered, exhausted and you've just been catapulted, sometimes with some slight winding thrown in for fun.
I reckon getting trapped under the sail is very important to mention.
It is the worst in knee deep water and you get pinned down knee deep water is where you learn all these things to.
I still think of that day and its like over 15 years since it happened to me.
Nicko is on the right track with setting it up on land with no fin to get the right stance with all the correct setting ect, then go on the water and it will be alot faster learning.
I think that what is good to make him understand is that using the harness is not just for resting the arms, but for making the sailing much more efficient (control) and fast (less weight).
I just can't sail without it now !
I like this idea.
A verbalised release drill.
I agree practicing getting stuck under the sail would be unnecessarily offputting, but there is a need to mention that it does happen, and to have rehearsed (verbally at least) what needs to be done could help avoid panic when hooked in and stuck under the sail.
Being hooked in and caught under the sail can be very scary and potentially life-threatening. I agree with Evlpanda it is the most dangerous aspect of the sport.
