How to Tie a Haylard Bend

A halyard is a rope or line that is used to pull up a sail, also known as a yard. The original term comes from the order to haul yards (sails). Though the material making up the ropes has changed, modern day sailboats still use the same terminology and principles to sail that were used by their wooden forebears. The halyard and many other complex lines throughout a sailing ship necessitated the invention of many complex and diverse knots designed for doing different jobs. As a result, even modern day sailors are required to know how to tie many different knots correctly and quickly. The knot associated with the halyard is the Halyard Bend. This knot was very secure but also very small. Its small size allowed the spar, which was a wooden rod connected to the top of the sail, up close to the sheave, which was the spot on the mast where the spar connected. This guide will explain how to correctly tie a halyard bend.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Rope
• Length of wood or hitching post

1. Slip the line under the hitching post and wrap one end around twice so both ends of the rope are pointing in the same direction.

2. Pull the same end of the rope across and under the other end. The other end shall be called the standing line henceforth.

3. Slip the end of the line along the hitching post and under the two loops wrapped around it to emerge from the other side.

4. Slip the end of the line along the hitching post and under the two loops wrapped around it to emerge from the other side.

5. Pull hard on the standing line to tighten the first knot.

Tips & Warnings

• Terminology has changed since this knot was first invented. It's called a gaff topsail knot specifically because it was designed to the small lightweight spars to the top of a mast on a ship capable of running several sails on each mast. There would've been very little room at the top of the mast and it would've only been able to support a small spar. Modern day knots of this kind are called a hitch rather than a bend. The term "bend" was used when any knot was meant to loop around a wooden post or spar. Only ships using traditional sailing masts would still be using this knot. Modern day ships tend to use triangular sails with small spars that can lock into place automatically.
• This knot is designed to hold tight only if the standing line has the constant pressure of the spar to keep it taut. This knot will come loose if tugged sharply, so it should not be used as a mooring or securing knot, especially one used to tie someone off if there is a danger of falling.

Resources

• Video Instructions On Tying A Halyard Bend