HGFA Skysailor Magazine

34 SKY SAILOR May | June 2018 A while back, I had a very near-death (drowning) experience. We live in a less than perfect world and I could not get out of my harness quickly enough. The designs and the mechanics of our usual systems have evolved from aviation or industrial safety applications. The big threat for us comes when our usage includes ‘beach-side’ conditions. Tiny amounts of sand and moisture can be fatal. Here are a few examples to consider. In all mechanical types, lubricants are inadvisable. After my crisis, I wrote to three harness manufacturers. Only one replied and announced that their customers were entirely satisfied. Years have passed and little has changed. We cannot let our guard down. The obvious lessons are: Never, never, never land in water unless you have a signed contract with an SIV rescue team. It is so easy to promise your family, that you will never land in the sea, but it can still happen. If it is obvious that a splash down is about to happen, especially if the water is deep and/ or turbulent, you should consider, exiting the leg straps and chest strap with a minute or two to go, abandon the waist strap(s) when less than five metres above the water, then drop out of the harness, with your hook knife, free and clear of its scabbard. Hopefully, the wing will drift downwind of your ‘arrival’, but that knife could still be useful. Incidentally, a whistle of the sports referee variety is a useful part of any flying kit. Costs very little and you never know when it will come in handy. By far the most common water hazard for us is at a beach, in light surf, at or close to the tide line. This was nearly my death trap. My feet landed high and dry, but an incoming wave grabbed the wing and wrestled with it while still wearing my harness. My first mistake. The second was to grab random lines to stop the outgoing wave/tide from pulling the wing into a channel. Immediately grab one or both rear risers. Any drag on the As will fill the wing with water. The drag on you, will then be massive. At this point your hook knife (you always carry one, don’t you?) should already be in your hand. A hook knife is useless if you are not prepared to use it! I was lucky and unlucky. The tide was running out, but within an hour of turning. The tiny beach had not seen footprints for years. I lost my balance in the shallows and the foamharness filled instantly. Water and sand did what they usually do to close fitting mechanical components. Several stumbles later, I was face down under a sodden harness with lines all around me, unable to stand. An incoming wave rolled the harness and the rest is boring-old regular breathing. I wrestled for almost an hour, it was touch and go. Eventually, I backed out of the harness as none of the releases (including the carabiners) would open. The wing was re-assigned. Time has moved on and there are examples of devices working with loads like ours (eg. kite surfing) where the security is provided by a simple over-centre lock and the protection against accidental deployment comes from a spring loaded sleeve or velcro. Is it toomuch to ask that some of these advances could be get built into our gear? This leg release has an open rear face (another dirt trap). This leg release (old, but functional) is reasonable with dirt, but awkward to open in most conditions. Impossible with gloves. This fabric style leg release should never be allowed near turbulent water. How Quick Is Your Quick Release? Our harnesses typically feature six release devices. In a perfect world these should be: Hard to open accidentally and easy to open in a crisis. by ‘Birdman’ Pete Hardy-Atkins This carabiner is over-developed (double locked). The barrel has to be: a) slid down, and b) twisted before the jaw opens. Never all that easy and hard with gloves. This waist harness had to be wiggled to release. Tricky, if you’re hanging in a tree. The triggers are small for gloves. Bad with sand and water. This (very common) waist band type is shockingly dirt sensitive. Never, never lubricate (even with sunscreen).