11 Mar 2014
Kandahar, Afghanistan
The single most useful, virtually essential, knot
used in sailing is the bowline. Pronounced “bowlyn” and not “bow line.”
Don’t mispronounce it….you will “out” yourself as a newbie immediately, and probably
receive a little ribbing or ridicule.
How to tie the bowline…..the makeup of this knot is two separate loops; the first is a small one that
becomes the knot, and the second is a larger loop that you
will keep. First loop….small, second loop…..larger.
There is a “story” told to assist in learning to tie
the bowline;it’s usefulness is up for debate. I report……. you decide.
“There is a hole in the ground (the small
loop). A rabbit (the
tail) comes up out of the hole and runs behind the tree (the
standing part). The rabbit circles the tree and runs back down into
the hole.”
This is a silly story, but it is the traditional method of teaching the bowline.
An illustration of how to tie a bowline.
1) Hold the
line across your left palm so that the long, standing part is lying away from you and the tail is several feet long.
Coil the rope counterclockwise so that one small loop is in your hand.
2) Pass the
tail (the free end/rabbit) through the loop from back to front (rabbit coming
out of the hole).
3) Then, pass
the tail around the back of the standing part (rabbit around the tree), and then
through the small loop (rabbit back into the hole), so that the line passes
back along itself. Tighten the knot by pulling on the tail in opposition to the
standing part.
4) I like to
add an extra step…it makes the know a little more secure and dresses it up
nicely. After passing the tail back into
the small loop, but before tightening it, pass the tail around the bigger loop
from the back around to the front and then pass it through the loop at the top
of the standing line (the tree). I found
an illustration somewhere on the internet and it is posted below.
All of you landlubbers…..grab a short section of line (rope) and try it out. You will be surprised at how easy it is, and, more importantly, you will learn how useful it is over time.
Who can do it? Comments welcome. Good Luck!
A dressed up bowline.
