| The square knot has a reputation as the "black sheep" | | | | before you attempt to tie up the excess cloth. This |
| of knots. But did you know that it has a rightful place | | | | keeps the boat boom over the cockpit for safety and |
| on any small cruising or racing sailboat? Read on to | | | | provides a handhold for the reefing crew as they tie |
| learn the secret of when you would use this famous | | | | up the foot. |
| marine knot. | | | | 3. Gather the extra cloth and roll it up toward the |
| If you've banned the square knot from you on-board | | | | boom. Take care to keep the sail battens parallel to |
| "must know" list of best knots, hold on! Add this | | | | the foot cloth as you roll. Stop rolling when you get to |
| variation the next time you need to reef your mainsail. | | | | the reef point sail ties. |
| Learn to tie the slippery reef knot. It's nothing more | | | | 4. Tie slippery reef knots around the boom if your |
| than a square knot finished with a slip knot. | | | | mainsail has a bolt-rope, slugs, or slides along the foot. |
| This useful nautical knot has been used for hundreds | | | | If you have a loose-footed mainsail, tie these knots |
| of years on sailing ships and small sailboats to hold the | | | | beneath the foot of the sail. Follow these steps: |
| excess sailcloth of a reefed mainsail. On the modern | | | | * Grab one end of each tie. Concentrate on the end in |
| mainsail, the sailmaker places reef tie-points across the | | | | your dominant hand |
| sail between the luff and leech for this purpose. | | | | * Pass it over and under the end in your non-dominant |
| Each reef point consists of a small round, square, or | | | | hand |
| diamond-shaped patch with a grommet punched into | | | | * Pass the same end over and under the end in your |
| the center. A piece of line about 18" to 24" long is | | | | dominant hand |
| threaded through each grommet and knotted on both | | | | * Make a loop in the bitter end before the final pass. |
| sides next to the grommet. | | | | * Pull the knot tight. |
| These sail ties allow you to tie up the extra sailcloth | | | | 5. Check again that each sail tie allows a few inches |
| that bunches up at the foot when you reef the | | | | of slack all along the boom. Do you see tension on any |
| mainsail. Use these five simple steps to lower the | | | | reef tie? If you do, re-tie the reef point to remove all |
| mainsail for reefing and tie up the extra cloth along the | | | | tension. Prevent tears and rips with this all important |
| foot of the boat boom: | | | | final step! |
| 1. Lower the mainsail and set the tack reef grommet. | | | | Now you know the secret of how to turn the lowly |
| Take up tension on the halyard so that the luff takes | | | | square knot into a prince-of-knots! Use the slippery |
| most of the load. This helps prevent tears at the leech | | | | reef knot the next time you need a reliable marine knot |
| and along the foot. Next, set the clew reef grommet. | | | | for reefing your mainsail. |
| 2. Pull the boat boom close to the center-line. Do this | | | | |