Page 11 - Derek E. Avery - The new encyclopedia of knots

pattern around a fixture.

Belaying a rope with a cleat, or cleating, requires three or four cross

turns of the rope, which passes under the horns of the cleat, crosses above
the cleat (figures 5.1 and 5.2) and finishes with a half hitch (figure 5.3). This
prevents the turns from falling off as the result of the boat’s motion. It is
important that no load is applied to the half hitch, as this could result in
jamming, making untying difficult. The half hitch is applied to the upper
horn of the cleat, if the cleat is vertical.

figure 4.1

figure 4.2