How to Tie Important Sailing Knots

There is a seemingly endless variety of sailing knots that sailors use for a variety of purposes. In fact, two sailors on the same boat, and in the same conditions, may opt for different knots. However, there are three indisputable knots that are essential for the novice sailor to be familiar with before leaving the dock; the bowline, the sailor’s knot and the cleat. Follow the steps below to learn how to tie these important sailing knots.

Instructions

1. Tie the bowline knot. After identifying the end of the rope, gather an arm's length or so and hold it in front of you, with the end hanging down. Next, twist the rope with your right hand to make a circle, holding it in place with your left hand. With your right hand, take the end of the rope, pull it up through the circle you’ve just created, around the back of the rope, and then back down through the circle again. This knot is the best for making a loop or eye, and it is easy to undo when it’s not under weight.

2. Practice the sailor’s knot. For this knot, you will need two separate lengths of rope, of about an arm’s length each, measuring from the end of the rope. Twist the first rope to form a loop. Next, bring the end of the second rope over the top of the loop you have just formed, stringing the second rope behind the starting fork of the first loop and then over the top of the ending fork. Thread the second rope underneath the loop of the first rope, then up and over itself, through the loop to make an “X” in the middle of the first loop. Bring the end of the second rope through underneath the first. Pull tight. This knot is also referred to as the "anchor bend," "carrick bend" and "full carrick bend." This knot is one of the strongest sailing knots and doesn’t jam easily or slip when wet.

3. Master the cleat. Starting from the bottom of the cleat, bring the rope around and up over the top of the cleat, then back down around, and up and over again, weaving it in a series of figure eights. (This can be done one to three times, depending on personal preference and desired strength.) To finish, bring the rope up and through itself, and pull tight to secure the knot firmly on the cleat.