Basic knots tying – 4 knots you should know while sailing

If you plan to do a bareboat charter in Croatia or somewhere else, there are few knots you should know.

Also, someone from the crew on board should also be able to tie some simple knots such as clove hitch, which is mostly used to tie fenders or a gangway or cleat hitch which we use to tie the boat to a dock.  Since when you are busy with maneuvering the boat in the marina, the crew member should pay attention to catch the mooring line and tie a cleat hitch. We also prepared a “how to video” of these knots, so you can practice these.

Each knot or hitch can be formed in a way of manners, and every “salty dog” would say that his way of making it is the best and most practical. For you, it is important only that you practice it and master it so you can form one even with your eyes closed.

Cleat Hitch

A knot we use to tie the boat’s line to a cleat on a dock or a boat, a very useful one, since cleats are practically the only fittings you can find on a modern sailboat. It is recommended that also someone from the crew know how to make a cleat hitch, since while the skipper is busy with maneuvering, the crew member should catch the mooring rope and make a cleat hitch.

First take a turn around the base of the cleat, and then wrap the line back under the arm of the cleat opposite the first turn, then back over the top of the cleat. Repeat the action two or three times, making figure of eight around cleats “horns” – as long as the rope diameter allows you to – and then run the line underneath the last crossing turn. Pull and you will get a perfectly neat and reliable hitch.

Clove hitch

It is a practical all-purpose knot, easy to tie around a pole/boom or similar object, also very useful when you have to tie your boat for a while to a post on the shore. Clove hitch is a knot regularly used to tie fenders – in that case it is very practical to push the working end under the second wrap doubled, to make loosening easier and be able to take fender quickly to another position.

We first lead the working end of rope around a pole, repeating the action once crossing over the first wrap, then leading the rope under the second wrap, always leaving several inches of rope free in the opposite direction.

Bowline knot

Is often called the king among knots, because it boasts all three essential features a perfect knot must have: it is easy to make, easy to undo, and it hold strong – the stronger you pull it. Bowline knot can be tied in many ways. It is very important to master this knot perfectly, because of its versatility and the fact that sometimes we have to make it in emergency situations.

Bowline knot is used for many things; from docking and attaching halyard to sail head and making a “seat” to lift someone to the rig. There are two versions of this knot: bowline on a bight, with a double working loop, and bowline with one working loop, for easy and quick loosening.

We start taking the lazy end and making a loop, using our thumb and index finger and wrapping the working end over the lazy one. Now we imitate a bunny coming out of its hole, running around a tree (the object we tie rope around) – seeing a hunter and escaping into the hole again.

Reef knot

An easily to tie knot, used to connect two ropes ends, or ends of the same rope, when wrapping it around something. The procedure is: using left hand we lead rope over our right hand making a half-loop, then repeat the action but leading rope by our right hand over the left one forming a half loop, pulling finally the working end through the loop upwards. It is essential in any case that you tighten both ropes strongly, especially if they are of different diameter.

And remember well sorted ropes on the yacht’s bow and stern board tell the story of a diligent and experienced crew, aware of the importance to make maneuvers swift and easy.

Source: Sailing – nautical skills by Emil Tomašević