Page 74 - The Complete Rigger’s Apprentice

line on a large, slick cleat, for instance, will need
more turns than large, gritty line on a small cleat.
A related note: few lines, in any area of rigging,
are likely to see extreme loads. That’s why people
can make truly awful belays, and not have problems
until an extreme load comes along. But good belays
are, by definition, ready for worst-case scenarios. So
if you always belay properly, even when it doesn’t
matter, you will automatically belay properly when
it does.
Cleating procedures also work on bitts, Samson
posts, and belaying pins, though at different orienta-
tions (Figure 3-4). The belaying-pin rail is mounted
so as to follow the line of the sheer. This has the
lead advantages mentioned above for cleats and also
presents a more pleasing appearance than would a
horizontal rail. A fife rail is mounted horizontally at
the base of the mast, but the leads themselves come
in at an angle whenever possible, often with the aid
of turning blocks bolted below the rail. Angled cleats
and pins are usually positioned to make things eas-
ier for right-handers, but sometimes the angle that
a line comes in at gives us left-handers a turn at
convenience.
The Capstan Hitch (Figure 3-5) is the best
method for belaying to a winch, capstan, rail, or
post. It’s an elegant, ingenious technique that pro-
vides absolute control and security around a cyl-
inder without the need to use the end. To tie it,
pass a bight of the tail under the standing part,
double back over the standing part, then turn the
bight over and drop it over the winch. Then pass a
bight from the opposite direction, double back, and
drop it over. Repeat from both sides and finish with Figure 3-5. A Capstan Hitch turns a winch into a
two Half Hitches made with a bight around the handy belaying post.
standing part.
When there’s no way to drop a bight over, as little tension on the tail as you undo the turns. Keep
when belaying to a rail, make the hitch using a long your hands well clear of the belay. When you get
bight as though it were an end or, when convenient, down to the last turns, the line will start sliding and
use the end itself. With either method, extra tension you’ll be able to feel how much tension there is.
can be gained by hauling on the tail after each pass. Then you can surge (pay out the slack under load),
When slacking away on a taut line, whether still keeping your hands well clear of the belay,
belayed with this hitch or by any other means, don’t until you can handle the tension with hands only.
just flip the turns off willy-nilly; the force of the load When the load is off, you can remove the last turns.
might surprise you and get out of control. Keep a To surge on a winch or capstan, hold the standing

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