Professional Yachtmaster Training

Rope Tying, Lines & Common Knots Associated with Yachts

How to Coil a Line Tutorial

How to Tie the Bowline Knot Tutorial

1.Lay the rope across your left hand with the free end hanging down. Form a small loop in the line in your hand.
2.Bring the free end up to and pass through the eye from the under side (the rabbit comes out of the hole).
3.Wrap the line around the standing line and back down through the loop (around the tree and back down the hole).
4.Tighten the knot by pulling on free end while holding standing line

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How to Tie a Clove Hitch Knot Tutorial

1.Wrap the free end of a rope around a post.
2.Crossover itself and around the post again.
3.Slip working end under last wrap.
4.Pull at both ends to tighten the knot.

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How to Tie a Rolling Hitch Knot Tutorial

1.Start with a turn around the object.
2.Make another wrap around the object, completing a round turn.
3.Complete with a half hitch, moving around the object in the same direction as the first turns, similar to the clove hitch but with an extra wrap :)

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How to Tie a Round Turn and Two Half Hitches Knot Tutorial

This knot is used to secure something which may come under load before we are finished tying the knot. The Round Turn and Two Half Hitches makes a very good knot for tying a fender to a stanchion and is much more secure than the more commonly used Clove Hitch.

1.Make the round turn by wrapping the working end twice around the object.
2.Bring the working end over the standing part of the rope.
3.Pass the working end through the eye you just formed and pull it tight. (First half hitch)
4. Repeat steps 2 + 3 again to form the second half hitch.
5. Finished!

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How to Tie a Figure 8 Knot, Stopper Knot Tutorial

The figure 8 knot provides a quick and convenient stopper knot to prevent a line sliding out of sight, for example, up inside the mast. keeps your line accessible in its proper place and even after it has been jammed tightly against a block, it doesn’t bind. It can be undone easily.

1. Form a “U” out of the line.
2. Place the working end over the standing part of the line.
3. Grab the working end from underneath the standing part of the line.
4. Pull the working end through the top of the formed loop.
5. Now you have a Figure 8 Knot :)

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How to Tie a Reef Knot Tutorial

The Reef knot , also know as a square knot, is used to connect two pieces of rope of equal diameter together. Please note that the reef knot should only be used when it is not serious if the knot comes undone.

1. Hold one end of the rope in your right hand and the other end in your left hand.
2. Cross the end of the rope in your right hand over the end in your left hand to form an “X.”
3. Bring the end of rope in your right hand down behind the end in your left hand, then back up, so that the two ends are entwined. The right hand rope is now in your left hand and vice-versa.
4. Use your left hand to pass the same end back over the end now in your right hand, forming another “X.”
5. Bring that end down behind the other end again, and continue pulling it through the loop that forms.
6. And done!

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How to Tie a Monkey’s Fist Tutorial

Monkey’s Fist description:

A monkeys fist is used to add weight to the end of a heaving line, making it easier to throw it.
This knot may take several attempts through trial and error to get a nice perfectly round and tight fitting knot but don’t give up!

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How to Tie a Sheet Bend Knot Tutorial

A sheet bend is used to tie two lines of unequal diameter to each other. The most common use for this is to tie a heaving line to a mooring line.

Sheet Bend – Simple Tying Instructions:

1. Form a loop at the end of the larger line. ( If there is no loop)
2.Bring the free end of the smaller joining line from under the loop of the larger line.
3.Wrap the small line around the back of both parts of the larger line.
4. Bring the smaller line back under itself. ( Not through the loop of the larger line)
5. Pull tight.
6. If you are concerned, you can do a double sheet bend with one more turn of the tail of the smaller line.

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How to Tie a Bowline on a Bight Tutorial

This knot is used to form a secure loop in the line where you would not have access to the ends of the line. It is often used as an emergency bosuns chair or as a modified version of a trucker’s hitch to gain an extra mechanical advantage – i.e for securing tender covers, tarps etc. If you have suggestions or tips on other uses for you would like to share, please post in the comments.

Bowline on a Bight – Tying Instructions:

1. Double a section of line and form an overhand loop, where you take your right hand and bring it towards your left hand.
2. Bring the working end through the bottom of the formed loop.
3. (This is where it differs from the bowline knot) Spread open the free working end and bring it down to the bottom of the double loop.
4. Pass the working end over the double loop and continue up to top of the eye.
5. Pull on the right-hand side of the formed loop and the standing part of the line to tighten.
6. And there you have a Bowline on a Bight!

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