5 Sailing Knots Every Sailor Should Know
                     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. 
01
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. 
02
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.
03
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.
04
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.
05
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.
Thanks!
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