Page 164 - Des Pawson "Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices"

Bowline

Nobody knows where this near perfect knot
came from. It is named after the rope attached

to the leech (the fore edge of a sail) of a
square sail. The rope is tensioned to make

the sail stand closer to the wind.
If you study the finished bowline you
will notice that the knot has the same

form as the sheet bend. Called by many
the “king of knots,” its only

disadvantage is that it is difficult to undo
when under strain. Without a load on
the standing end it is simple to untie,

even after a great strain has been
applied.

There are a number of ways of tying
the bowline, two of which need to be

learned to make full use of this loop
knot. The first is best if the rope is
coming from behind you—for example, if

you need to make fast to the towing point
on a car or if you are on a boat and need to
Pocket Guide to Knots & Splices
put the bowline over a post.
The second method is with the standing

end running away from you—useful for when
you have had a rope thrown to you or if you
want to make the loop round your waist. By

learning both methods, you should be able to cope
with all eventualities. Whichever method you use,

always leave the working end long enough so that
it does not pull out as the knot tightens.

162