Page 35 - The Knot Bible

Clove hitch tied
KNOT SCORE
in the bight Strength

Security
Faced with an emergency, such as a bouncing boat or bucking bronco, the Diffi culty Tying
Diffi culty Untying
fastest knot you can tie is a clove hitch in the bight. Old-time sailors and
Usefulness
cowboys could tie the knot in the air, so it landed on the post ready-made.

1 In this context, the ‘bight’ is any 2 Put a loop in the bight of the line 3 Put an identical loop in the line
part of the line which does not – either overhand or underhand. right next to the fi rst. Make sure it
include the ends. ‘turns’ in the same direction.

4 Hold the loops together as they KNOT KNOW-HOW
were formed, and drop them over
the mooring point. Tighten by That the clove hitch has been around
pulling the parts in opposite for a long time is demonstrated by the
directions. number of ways that have been found
to tie it. There are one-handed methods,
two-handed twisting methods, a hook
method, and even a two-fi ngered
method. The four methods shown here
(pages 32–35) should, however, cover
most eventualities – at least until the
reader becomes a professional square-
rigger or cowboy.

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