A very important part of sailing involves the ropes used to maneuver the boat. Therefore, it is of the highest importance that you know the most common knots used in sailing. The first knot that anyone should know is the bowline knot. The bowline makes a secure loop using the end of a rope. This knot can be easily undone with the pull of the remaining end but stays secure by applying pressure to the bottom of the knot. This is most commonly used to anchor the boat to a hitch when docked.Confused? Here ‘s a little help . For a more secure knot while anchored you will want to learn the anchor hitch which can also be used, as the name suggests, to tie the rope to the anchor.
For actual sailing you will need to learn the clove hitch, figure eight, and the rolling hitch. These are used to secure fenders, stop lines near job sheets, and add tension to sailing lines. In addition to these necessary knots, knowing a reef knot will come in handy in certain sailing situations.
A buntline hitch will also be a necessary knot as it is used to secure knots to a pole or rail. This knot can be very versatile but will become necessary when holding a sail. Along the same lines, to achieve the purpose of squaring a sail, a running bowline can achieve the same purpose but is much more difficult to get undone. That is why it is most commonly used to secure a boat on land to a tree or pole.
To make your sailing ropes more functional you will need to learn how to tie the Ashley bow knot. This knot serves to make a bulky knot that is used as a stopper at the end of a rope or at the necessary points.