If you own a boat or are planning to buy a yacht, there are a number of knots you should know. Whether it's a knot to moor the yacht or to attach a fender to the railing; it's incredibly useful to know the right knots. It's important to always be able to tie a reliable knot that you can easily untie after use. Well-known sailor's knots can be tied quickly, withstand extreme pressure from high waves and strong winds at sea, among other things, and can be removed quickly and easily. These are five safe knots you use on a yacht.
Clove hitch
One of the most commonly used knots on board a yacht or sailboat is the clove hitch. The clove hitch is a flexible knot that you use, among other things, for mooring your yacht to a bollard, tying a fender to the railing, or securing ropes to the mast. A fender is also called a bumper. This air-filled cushion protects the hull of the yacht from the quay, preventing damage and scratches when mooring against the quay. The clove hitch is always tied around something. You pass the end of the rope around the railing. The end forms a cross over the rest of the rope. Pass the end around the railing again and thread the end under the rope, crossing for the second time. Pull both ends tight and you have a clove hitch.
Bowline
The bowline is one of the knots most used by watersports enthusiasts. The knot consists of a loop that is not tightened under pressure. Regardless of the forces on the rope, the loop will therefore not become tighter or looser. Although the bowline does not come loose by itself, you can easily remove the knot. Once you understand how to tie a bowline, it is an easy knot. You use this knot, among other things, when mooring the boat, because you can easily secure the boat to a pole with the bowline. There is a mnemonic to remember this knot more easily: 'The loose end of the rope is the rabbit'. The piece of rope where you don't make the knot is the tree and the turn in the rope is the rabbit hole. The rabbit comes out of its hole, runs around the tree (from behind) and quickly crawls back into its hole. Now all you have to do is pull and you have the bowline.
Cleat hitch
The cleat hitch is an important knot when mooring in the harbor or when you want to tie up your ship with lines. You use the cleat hitch to easily, quickly and safely moor your yacht or sailing yacht. A mooring maneuver in the harbor often remains a challenge, so it is very pleasant if you have mastered the cleat hitch. You go with the rope to the furthest edge of the cleat. Then you make one or two figure eights and finish with the so-called pinch knot.
Figure-eight knot
The figure-eight knot is a very easy knot. You probably already use it occasionally in daily life. The knot is similar to the number eight. On a yacht, this knot is mainly used to prevent ropes and cables from slipping through. The knot is easy to undo, even after a lot of pressure has been put on it. This is very important while sailing. Wind and waves exert enormous force on the knots. You make a single figure-eight knot by taking a loop, making a turn in it and passing the end through the turn.
Reef knot
The square knot is also familiar to many people. This useful knot is used to connect two ropes of the same thickness. Take two ropes and lay the right rope over the other. Fold the rope you have in your right hand under the rope in your left hand. Bring the rope in your right hand back over the rope in your left hand. Finally, pull the original right rope under the other rope and pull firmly on both ends to tighten the knot.
