Essential Sailing Knots and When to Use Them

You don’t need a whole rigging manual to sail confidently. Master these three knots for everyday jobs — and one bonus stopper knot that saves headaches.

1) Cleat Hitch

Use it for: Tying up to a jetty/dock cleat.
Why this one: Fast, secure under load, and easy to release.

Step-by-step

• Lead the line around the base of the cleat to take the strain.
• Cross over the top in a figure-of-eight pattern to the opposite horn.
• Cross back over to make another figure-of-eight.
• Finish with a locking tuck: form a small loop, flip it over one horn so the standing part traps the tail.

Check: The final tuck looks like a neat half hitch on the cleat’s horn — not a messy stack.

2) Round Turn and Two Half Hitches

Use it for: Tying up to a mooring buoy or ring. Why this one: Spreads the load, doesn’t shake loose when slack, and is easy to adjust.

Step-by-step

• Take the line twice through the ring (a round turn) so the friction carries most of the load.
• Wrap the tail around the standing part and tuck through to make one half hitch.
• Repeat for a second half hitch.
• Snug the hitches up neatly against the round turn.

Tips:

• Always use two hitches (one will slip).
• Leave a short tail.
• Add a third hitch or slip finish if leaving overnight.

3) Bowline

Use it for: Tying sheets to the clew of a headsail.
*Why this one: Creates a strong fixed loop that won’t slip or distort the sail, and is quick to untie when changing sails.

Step-by-step (classic method)

• Form a small loop in the standing part (the “hole”).
• Pass the tail up through the hole (rabbit comes out of the hole).
• Take it around the standing part (around the “tree”).
• Return the tail down through the hole.
• Snug tight and dress the knot neatly.

Callout: The bowline is famous for a reason — it’s strong, secure under load, and unties easily. It’s also used in rescue situations, where a reliable loop is needed around a person.

4) Sail Tie Methods

Use it for: Securing the mainsail with sail ties when packing up

With a sewn loop in the tie

• Wrap the tie around the flaked sail.
• Pass the free end through the loop.
• Pull snug.
• Finish with a slip knot (slipped half-hitch) for quick release.

Without a loop

Option A: Tie a small bowline in one end to make a loop, then finish as above. Option B: Use a reef knot to tie the two ends together (only if same size and material).

Tip: The slip finish makes hoisting faster — one pull and the tie falls open.

Bonus: Figure-of-Eight Stopper Knot

Use it for: Preventing sheets from running out of blocks/fairleads (dinghies and small keelboats).
Why this one: Bulky enough to stop, tidy, and easy to untie.

Step-by-step

• Near the end of the line, form a loop.
• Take the tail around the standing part.
• Pass the tail back through the loop.
• Dress the knot into a clean “8” and pull snug.

Final Thoughts

These four — the cleat hitch, the round turn & two half hitches, the bowline, and the sail tie methods (with the figure-of-eight as backup) — cover almost everything you’ll need for everyday sailing. They’re quick to learn, reliable in practice, and satisfying when muscle memory takes over.

Practice them on shore a few times, and they’ll be there when you need them most.