Using a trapeze has just become a lot safer.

UPDATE - Aquastrap have donated 6 pairs of these for prizes at the Whitstable Open, UK Nationals & Worlds.

A new safety product has been launched for the 2007 season aimed at dinghy or cat sailors that use a trapeze. The Aquastrap, releasable foot-strap, replaces the potentially dangerous fixed footstraps that adorn most boats. A footstrap is an essential piece of equipment for anyone that ventures out onto a trapeze, providing stability and balance, and allowing the user to extract the maximum performance from his or her boat.

Until now the choice has been to either use a footstrap designed for windsurfing, or buy from a choice of one or two fixed straps that are sold for sailing boats, or make straps yourself from webbing or similar material (even hosepipe has been used!). All of these straps have the potential to trap your foot in the event of a pitchpole, capsize, collision or equipment failure. This can quite often lead to severe ligament and tendon damage in the lower leg and ankle. And sometimes even worse.

Jamie Stevenson, a keen skiff racer, was aware of the lack of a safer alternative to the fixed footstraps, having had an incident where he was lucky to escape being trapped by his footstrap. Jamie, who works for an engineering design company specialising in the design of high quality polymer products, put a proposal to the design team that they develop a releasable strap. They agreed, and after 3 years of designing and testing the Aquastrap has been launched.

The footstrap assembly itself is made from 3 different, high grade polymers specifically chosen for flexibility, durability, strength and comfort. The straps can be fixed to the gunwale or to a rack on almost any dinghy or catamaran using either screws or rivets. Full adjustment is provided for all sizes of foot, and also the straps are adjustable for release force to cater for lightweight or heavyweight sailors, and to allow the user to set a force that won't release too easily when the situation is recoverable in the case of a saveable pitchpole for instance.

Retailing at £26.99 for a pair the footstraps represent great value for money, not only considerably undercutting other sailing footstraps currently being sold, but adding safety and good looks too.
For further information, on-line sales or trade enquiries please visit www.aquastrap.net

UPDATE - Aquastrap have donated 6 pairs of these for prizes at the Whitstable Open, UK Nationals & Worlds.