Knots, Bends & Hitches - Ultimate BVI - British Virgin Islands

Knots, Bends and Hitches

Sailing is indeed an art form which has been passed down from generation to generation and has succeded in fascinating everyone from the casual observer to the professional sailor. We have provided a few basic knots and rope techniques which are common on most sailing vessels. If you are already a practiced sailor then this will serve as a review of your skills. If however, you are new to the art of sailing, then the illustrations and descriptions we have provided are for your study and practice so that you will be prepared for the fine adventure of a sailing vacation in the British Virgin Islands!!

There are actually four groups of "knots":
Knots are used to form a loop like a bowline.
Hitches are used to make a line fast to another object.
Bends are used to secure two rope ends to each other.
Splices are actually used to join rope together strand by strand.

You should consider the rope to have three parts, the working end, the standing part and the bight (consider the bight as a curve not less than half a circle).

You never "tie" a knot, you put a knot or make a knot. A hitch is taken or made fast. You put in a bend or a splice.