Page 61 - The Knot Bible
P. 61
Queen clara hitch
KNOT SCORE
In 1986, Dr Harry Asher published three knots with clara in their names: the Strength
clinging clara, the queen clara and the great queen clara hitches. All were Security
designed to be tied either on spars or large ropes. The queen clara was a Diffi culty Tying
development of the clinging clara hitch and is said to be stronger and more Diffi culty Untying
Usefulness
secure. It remains to be seen which, if any, of these knots catch on.
1 Take two turns around the spar 2 Pass the working end over both 3 Pass the working end over the
or line. In the latter case, make sure turns and under the spar or line, fi rst turn and under the second, still
the turns go in the same direction going in the opposite direction. going against the lay of the line.
as the lay of the line.
4 Tighten the knot. Ideally, the fi rst KNOT KNOW-HOW
two turns should lie in between the
strands of the line being tied. New knots are being invented all the
time – although usually they turn out to
be either a copy or a slight variation of
an old knot. Harry Asher was a genuine
innovator, and his Alternative Book of
Knots contains many new developments,
including the three claras mentioned
above, the simple simon (page 92) and
the vice versa (although this too is said
to be a variation of an earlier knot).
60