Page 294 - The Ashley Book of Knots

BELAYING AND MAKING FAST

1606. If you are at all nervous when lowering yourself from aloft

with a SINGLE HITCH, tie an OVERHAND KNOT in the end before form-

ing the hitch. When you have returned to deck the hitch is removed

by shaking or flirting the rope.

1607. The knot pictured here is in formation a HALF HITCH. But

the principle by which it is nipped is the principle of the SINGLE

HITCH (5~ 1608
1603).

1608. Pin racks are seized in the rigging well above deck and are

belayed to in bad weather, or when there is a deck load, or if the

deck is cluttered.

1609. A right-hand turn on a pin is the one that is naturally taken

by a right-handed sailor. When running rigging has been hauled

taut the mate usually shouts, "So!" "Enough!" "Hold!" "Hold it!"

"There!" or any other individual expression that he fancies, and to 1&0'1 1&10

, b II

which the crew must become accustomed. The next order is, "Belay,"

which may be followed by "Make fast," after sufficient turns have

been taken. The preferred way is shown in which to take the initial

turn when the standing part leads from the left.

1610. A left-hand turn is the one naturally taken by a left-

handed sailor. Right-hand turns are sometimes insisted on, as uni-

formity is desirable, particularly at night, when a sailor has to "see

with his fingers." But the direction of the initial turn is usually de-

termined by the lead of the rope, except when a rope leads up and

down.
ttl',.", .. , 'I,I'U'U,

The length of a belaying pin depends on the thickness of the rail.

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Generally a pin projects six or seven inches below the rail, but the : IE>I1. 16') 1614

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handle of the pin may be anything up to twelve or fourteen inches • ./
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above the rail, depending on the size of the coil that is hung from it.

Sometimes coils are divided and hang from two neighboring pins.

1611. Right-hand belaying-pin turns are taken in this way, but

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there is no tendency for a rope to twist, whichever way the turns •
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are taken, as the turn at the top is always the reverse of the turn at

the bottom, so that the two compensate each other.

I 615" ,616

1612. An initial round turn on a pin is common, in fact preferable,

but after the first turn a round turn is lubberly and not to be coun-

tenanced.

1613. ,Vhen possible, a cleat should be fixed so that the lead of

the standing part is at an angle with it, be it either from the left or

from the right.

1614. "Mlilke fast" (contra, "Cast off"). This is the order to add a

SINGLE HITCH to the top of the coil on a pin, or on the forward or -

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upper horn of a cleat. -

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1615. ANTI-GALLIGAN HITCH. The name is derived from "anti-

Gallican" and is a survival from the Napoleonic Wars. Incidentally

1611 , & I S

it is the most polite name I know for a "left-hand" BELAYING-PIN

HITCH, which is at times very difficult to untie.

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1616. Belay and stop. A method of relieving the strain on a belay- •
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ing pin by means of a stopper. This is also known as "backing'" a

sheet, brace, etc.

1617. A deck lead allows of stronger hauling than a straight lead.

1618. A ."permanent lead" is generally rove through an eye or a

block that IS fast to a staple or ring on deck.

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