Hanging on the wire

We take a look at some of the various trapeze harnesses on offer

Increasingly the trapeze boat market is a growing one and as such the harness is gradually becoming a very important piece of kit for many top sailors. A notoriously uncomfortable piece of equipment, the trapeze harness can either be perfectly comfortable and supportive or feel as though it is greatly reducing your chance of any future children.

Recently with the increase in high performance boats and the reduction in race and course length the demands placed on harnesses have to some extent changed. Where in the past a good harness was generally made with a great deal of adjustment, enabling the wearer to adapt it perfectly for their body shape – and trapeze style - these days an ideal fit is less important to many than a lack of adjusting straps etc that can catch on various parts of the boat.

Also in the past harnesses tended to offer considerably more back support to many of those favoured today. Mostly this is because previously when courses were longer, crews could be expected to be hanging on the trapeze for extended periods of time. Now, with shorter courses, there is a much greater emphasis on flexibility and ease of movement, as well as shorter periods of time spend on the wire. This has been reflected in many of the trapeze harness designs we see being used now.

There is a staggering range of different harnesses on the market with a number of variations existing within each manufacturer. Some offer quick release and non quick release hook options on all of their products, whilst others offer these options only on some. Below we have taken a look at a small selection of the most popular styles of harness. With a piece of equipment than can be so personally specific we would strongly recommend trying out a harness before settling on a purchase as, until you have spent at least an hour in one there is very little way of ensuring it is comfortable for you.



Banks Skiff Harness:

The Banks skiff harness has long been a favourite with high performance sailors. Made from hard wearing polyester sailcloth with closed cell foam padding the harness is durable and perhaps more importantly remarkably simple.

It falls very firmly into nappy harness category designed mostly for skiff sailors but can also be worn by those on more traditional boats. There is no waist adjustment and therefore it is clean of rope and webbing straps. This harness is ideal for the modern high performance dinghy crew and is exceptionally light and comfortable. The Banks Harness does not offer as much back support as some of its competitors; however this translates into a significant improvement in upper body flexibility.



Magic Marine Racing Harness:

The Magic Marine Racing Harness, sits at effectively the opposite end of the harness spectrum. It has a significant amount of adjustment through a number of different straps. However, as Magic Marine have been doing for some time now all the buckles are covered with flexible materials such as neoprene, ensuring as little possibility of catching as possible.

The harness was developed alongside a number of 470 crews and its design reflects these conventional boat origins. The harness features back support battens which should improve support on long trapezing legs. It is made from hard wearing polyester making sure the harness lasts with minimal wear and tear while remaining light. As with many harnesses these days the Racing Harness comes with a quick release hook



Crewsaver Plasma Harness:

The Plasma Spreader Bar Harness is Crewsaver’s lightweight harness and was developed to deliver the correct posture on the wire at all times.

This harness is, in many ways, a cross between the two different styles, having an overall nappy harness fell and design, but with webbed adjustment straps running down the sides which should ensure good fit and support. The sides are padded and it also includes a reinforced seat area in addition to a spreader bar designed to spread trapezing loads away from just a single hook point.

Like the Magic Marine the Plasma Harness has the addition of a Quick Release Hook system for safer trapezing, allowing the wearers to detach themselves from the wire if tangled in rigging or if pre-empting capsize.



Gill Skiff Harness:

The Gill Skiff Harness was developed over a two year period where Gill analysed how to create a harness that could give good support, and this is the result. It is similar to the Magic Marine harness, incorporating leg and adjustable side straps, the buckles for which are hidden behind neoprene casing. It is impressively sleek for an adjustable harness but does still look as though parts may catch on errant ropes and the like.

Most interesting is this harness includes an Aluminium plate low down to support the lower back of the wearer. Although this may provide fantastic support there is some concern it could also impede the movement of the wearer.

Gill have also incorporated a quick release hook system, adding the RWO design into their harness, with a unique push button release system, which should make releasing the hook simple even at heigh loads.

Who wears what?

Richard Stenhouse – Musto Skiff World Champion:

“I use the Tim Rush nappy harness – similar to the Banks Skiff Harness - because it is really comfortable. If you send your measurements they will make it to fit you. It is also really smooth so things do not catch on it as much as some of the harnesses with straps etc.

The Rush harness also has a smaller hook than many which does not get in the way too much and makes wire to wire tacks and gybes easier for me.”

Simon Hiscocks – Two time 49er Olympic Medalist:

“I am actually just about to launch my own harness ( below, available through his SHOCK website) after many years of sailing in others. It is a standard nappy harness in a very light material that allows a lot of flexibility in the top half of the body. It is really important not to have any protruding straps that can catch on ropes etc during manoeuvres.”