How To Tie Knots For Use In Sailboarding

Some Basic Knots That Are Useful For Windsurfing

Nov 25, 2008

Knots play an important part in sailboarding. Good technique and equipment are useless if a knot comes undone during a race or when facing a three metre wall of water.

With modern sailboarding equipment, the use of knots is not vital as cleats and other devices secure ropes. However, the knowledge of a few basic knots can save frustrations on and off the water.

Figure Eight Knot

The figure eight knot is used at the end of a rope to prevent it sliding through a cleat. The knot commonly used for this purpose is the 'granny knot, which is a simple loop in the rope. This works fine until trying to undo the knot! After getting wet and jammed onto itself it can be impossible to undo. Pliers are sometimes needed.

To do the figure eight knot, form a loop in the rope with the end going under the rope. Take the free end and go over and around the rope then up through the loop from the bottom.

When pulled tight the lay of the rope looks like the figure eight. This knot will come undone with ease, even after being pulled against a cleat all day.

Reef Knot

Take the two ends of the rope, one in each hand. Put the right hand rope over the left and twist it under and up. Then the left side end (the original right hand one) is put back over the right hand rope. Twist under and pull the knot tight.

The lay of the ropes should be symmetrical. When the two ends of the rope are pushed towards each other the knot opens up, even after a day’s hard sailing.

The best way to remember this is: 'right over left and under, then left over right and under.' The 'right' or 'left' referring to the rope end on the right or left side.

Bowline

The bowline gives a loop at the end of a rope that won't slip and is easy to undo. Used on the downhaul to form the loop in a 'block and tackle' arrangement is probably the most common use.

Near the end of the rope make a small loop. This is NOT the size of the eventual loop. The end of the rope that goes to the right should lie on top of the end to the left.

To make the final loop, take the right hand end and bring it back and come up through the first loop. This second loop will be the final loop. Take the end that has come up through the first loop and take it under the end that comes from the left. Then around and back through the original loop.

Clove Hitch

The clove hitch knot is useful for tying harness ropes to the boom. It isn't as good as a proper strap but can be used if a strap breaks so a day's sailing isn't lost.

Put one end of the rope over the boom. Take this end around the boom then back over itself. Go around the boom again and feed the end under the last turn. Pull the knot tight, making sure the free end doesn't slip through the knot. A figure eight knot can prevent this happening.

The knots described here are some of the basics that can assist in making sailboarding more enjoyable. Knowledge of a few knots can turn what could be a disappointing day with equipment failures into a good day on the water.

The copyright of the article How To Tie Knots For Use In Sailboarding in Wind/Kite Surfing is owned by Bruce Iliff. Permission to republish How To Tie Knots For Use In Sailboarding in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.