Knots Challenge

The following definitions will assist cadets when tying each knot or lashing:

• The working end (bitter end) is the very end of the rope that is used for tying a knot.

• The working part (running part) is the short length of rope that is manipulated to make the knot.

• The standing part is the section of rope that usually “stands still” during the knot-tying process. Often it is the longer end that leads away from the loop, bight or knot.

• The standing end is the end of the rope opposite the end being used for tying a knot.

• The crossing turn or loop is a part of rope that crosses over itself. The working part can be over or under

• The standing part in a crossing turn.

• A bight is a loop in the rope that does not cross over itself.

The knot is made using the following method:

1. Put the left hand working end of the line on top of the right hand working end.

2. Bring the left hand working end of the line under the right hand working end.

3. Put the working end that is now on the right on top of the working end that is now on the left.

4. Bring the working end that is on top over and then under the other working end so that the working end in the left hand comes out of the same space through which it entered the knot.

The steps for tying a clove hitch using the bight are:

1. In the middle of the rope, make a crossing turn or half hitch, with the rope that comes from the left being on top.

2. To the right of the first crossing turn, make a half hitch with exactly the same configuration (Figure 1).

3. Put the right-hand half hitch on top of the left-hand half hitch (Figure 2).

4. The pair of hitches are now slipped over the top of the post (Figure 3).

The figure of eight is a stopper knot, used to tie off the end of a line. It is commonly used to prevent the ends of the sheets of sails from pulling through blocks, eyebolts or fairleads.

The knot is made using the following method:

1. Hold the standing end in one hand, and make a crossing turn with the working end passing under the standing part of the rope.

2. Bring the working end over the standing part.

3. Tuck the working end up through the loop from behind, forming a figure eight.

4. Pull tight on the working part.

The steps for method #1 are:

1. Begin with a loose figure of eight knot (Figure 1).

2. Guide the running end back up through the loop it just came down through (Figure 2).

3. Have the running end trace alongside the rope in the original figure of eight under the standing end.

4. Have the running end follow the original figure of eight under the double rope (Figure 3).

5. The running end follows the original figure of eight (Figure 4).

6. Pull tight and dress knot by flattening it and making sure the ropes are side by side

The knot is made using the following method:

1. With the standing end in one hand, form a small bight with the working end of the line, and lay it overtop of the standing end of the line.

2. Bring the working end of the line up to form a loop at the bottom, and make the resulting loop the required size.

3. Bring the working end up through the bight and around the standing end.

4. Bring the working end down through the bight.

5. Hold the two sides of the loop and the working end in one hand, while the other hand holds the standing end of the line, and pull in opposite directions.

Tip to remember the sequence : "The rabbit leaves the hole, turns around the tree and goes back in the hole".