Sailing Knots for Charter: The Basics You Need to Know
Sailing knots useful on a charter: cleat hitch, clove hitch, figure-eight and bowline. When and why to use them, without exam-level theory.
A sailing license requires knowing more than a dozen knots, but on a real charter five are enough to handle most situations: from mooring to throwing an emergency line. This guide skips the exam-level theory and focuses on what actually helps a crew on board, whether you hold a license or are sailing with a skipper.
Why bother with knots if I am sailing with a skipper
Even if you charter a boat with a skipper, there is always a moment on board when someone from the crew has to hand over or hold a line: while mooring, approaching a lock, or when a line needs to be thrown to the dock quickly. Knowing a few basic knots is what separates a crew that actually helps from one that just holds a rope in their hands. It is also the first thing that shows at pickup and return: we describe how the boat's condition is documented at that stage in our guide to the yacht handover report.
Cleat hitch: the mooring knot
This is the most important knot on a charter, because you use it at every mooring. You wrap the line around the base of the cleat in a figure-eight pattern, then finish with a locking loop that tightens under load but releases easily when you want to remove it. A well-tied cleat hitch holds the boat in strong wind and the wake of a passing motorboat, yet you can untie it with one hand in a few seconds. We show step by step how to approach a dock and throw the first line in our guide to mooring a yacht.
| Knot | Use | When you use it |
|---|---|---|
| Cleat hitch | securing a line to the dock | at every mooring |
| Clove hitch | quick attachment to a rail or post | fenders, temporary lines |
| Figure-eight | stopper at the end of a line | sheets, halyards |
| Bowline (rescue loop) | a fixed loop that does not tighten | throw lines, looping over a post |
| Reef knot | joining two lines of similar thickness | tying sail covers, sails |
Clove hitch: quick attachment
The clove hitch is two simple wraps of the line around a post, rail or cleat, one over the other. It is not as secure as the cleat hitch, but you can tie it in two seconds, so it works well for temporary situations: adding a fender, holding the boat briefly before someone ties a proper line. The downside is that it can loosen under changing load, so for a longer stay always replace it with a cleat hitch.
Figure-eight: the stopper that saves the day
You tie a figure-eight knot at the end of a line so it does not slip through a block or shackle. It is the simplest knot of the five, but its absence is one of the more common causes of small mishaps on a charter: a sheet that escapes your hand during a tack, or a halyard that disappears into the mast. Tying a figure-eight at the end of every working line takes a few seconds and eliminates the problem entirely.
If something goes wrong with the rigging or the hull during your trip, photograph it right away: it makes the settlement easier once you are back at the base. We describe what that situation looks like step by step in our guide to a boat breakdown on charter.
Bowline: a loop that does not tighten
This knot creates a fixed loop that does not close under load, which makes it easy to untie afterward, even after a hard pull. That is why it is the standard knot for a rescue throw line, but it is also useful anywhere you need a permanent loop, for instance to drop over a post on the other side of the dock. Unlike the cleat hitch, you do not wrap it around the object: you tie the loop first and only then place it over the target.
Reef knot: joining two lines
The reef knot joins two lines of similar thickness, for instance when tying a sail cover or reefing a sail. It is not a knot for critical loads: under heavy tension and with lines of different thickness it can come undone, so do not use it for mooring. Its strength is its simplicity and the fact that it releases with a single pull on the right end when you no longer need it.
Where to practise before your charter
All five knots can be learned on a short length of rope at home, without water or a boat: what matters is muscle memory in your hands, not the conditions on deck. If this is your first trip, it is also worth reviewing the general set of good habits in our guide to your first charter and the rules of behaviour in a marina, which we cover in our guide to sailing etiquette. Knots are one of the basics of safety on the water, alongside a life jacket and knowing the signals: we have gathered the full set of rules in our guide to safety on the water.
Frequently asked questions
How many sailing knots do you really need for a charter?
In practice, five are enough: the cleat hitch, clove hitch, figure-eight, bowline and reef knot. They cover the large majority of situations a recreational crew runs into.
Is a reef knot suitable for mooring?
No. Under heavy load and with lines of different thickness it can come undone. Use a cleat hitch on a cleat for mooring, and leave the reef knot for lighter tasks like tying sail covers.
Which knot holds a boat best in strong wind?
A cleat hitch tied correctly on a cleat: the locking half-turn tightens under load, yet you can still remove it with one hand when you are ready to leave.
How does a clove hitch differ from a cleat hitch?
A clove hitch ties faster, but holds less securely under changing load. It works for temporary, brief attachment, not for mooring during a longer stay.
