5 Sailing Knots Every Sailor Should Know

Sailing is a wonderful sport that allows us to take to the ocean and our lakes and enjoy the freedom and exhilaration that comes with controlling a vessel while out at sea.

Bowline

One of the most useful and versatile knots in sailing and widely referred to as the “king of knots,” a bowline is the perfect place to start. If you only learn one knot before sailing out, make it this one.

Reef knot

A reef knot or square knot is also not a million miles away from a typical shoelace knot using the same over-under method. It’s commonly used to create a stopper knot to tie two different lines together.

Figure-Eight

The aptly named figure-eight knot is another stopper knot that’s highly versatile and widely used at sea as well as in a range of other outdoor sports like rock climbing.

Midshipman’s Hitch Knot

This one’s a little more advanced, but it’s a strong and highly versatile adjustable knot that can come in handy in a crisis. The midshipman’s hitch knot can be fastened under tension, creating an adjustable loop at the end of your line.

Cleat Hitch

While all of the above knots will help you out at sea, a cleat hitch will keep your vessel secure when docking. Simply wrap your line around the far side of the cleat, then up and across, back toward the nearside, and back to the far side.