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Marlinespike Seamanship.

Following is the various knots that are used commonly by sailors either for cruising, racing or just day sailing.

The reef or square knot is used for tying light lines together, for tying awning stops, reef points, cord on packages, and in fact is put to such numerous uses by sailors that many landsmen call it the sailor's knot.The square knot is perhaps the most useful and common knot. Do not use the square knot to tie together lines of different sizes, as it will slip. The knot has one serious fault. It jams and is difficult to untie after being heavily stressed.

The figure-eight knot is shaped like an 8, made in the end of a line to prevent it from unreeling through a block, fairlead etc.

The best knot to use when tying up is a bowline. It will hold tight without slipping but is very easy to undo. The bowline has plenty of other uses around the boat. If you break a shackle, it can hold your halyard to your sail, and it can secure the jibsheets to the jib. The bowline is a difficult knot at first, but worth mastering. A simple way to remember how to make this very useful knot is to think of a rabbit coming out of his hole, running around a tree and back down its hole. The bowline is considered a knot second in usefulness only to the square knot. The bowline will not slip, does not pinch or kink the rope as much as some other knots, and does not jam and become difficult to untie. Bowlines are used wherever a secure loop or noose is needed in the end of a line, such as a line which is to be secured to a bollard in making a boat fast to a pier or wharf. They may also be used in securing lines to anchors where there is no time to make a splice. Hawsers are sometimes connected by two bowlines, the loop of one knot being passed through the loop of the other for towing.

The clove hitch is used for making a line fast temporarily to a pile or bollard.

Here is how to make fast to a horn cleat.

1. To tie a cleat hitch, wrap your line three-quarters of the way around the base of the cleat.

2. Cross under one horn, making an "S" on the top of the cleat.

3. Twist a loop with the free end and, in one smooth move....

4. ...hook the loop over the top of the cleat and snug it down.

TIDES and CURRENTS

You'll find tidal currents in coastal bays, rivers, and oceans.

A closed body of water such as a reservoir or a small lake has no tides. It may have tricky currents, though, caused by strong breezes churning up the water.

If the current is flowing away from your home port, it will be easy for you to get out for the day. Coming home may be more difficult, unless you have timed your return to "ride" the incoming tide, about six hours and twelve minutes later (the gap between most high and low tides).

Water flowing toward the shore or upstream is called flood current; water running away from the shore or downstream is ebb current. As the tide changes, you may see a calm on the surface slack water.

You can find the times of local high and low tide from weather forecasts and local newspapers. To discover the strength of the current, you need to check with other sailors or the Coast Guard in your area.

You will gradually develop a knack for observing current. Study the movement of water around buoys to get an idea of the current's strength and speed and direction. Notice how the water becomes choppy if the current is moving against the wind.

Ebb-Tide falling from high to low.

Flood-Tide rising from low to high.

Slack Water-Period at the turn of the tide when the water is still, neither rising nor falling.

Tide: The vertical rise and fall of the mass of water in the oceans in response to the gravitational forces of sun and moon.

The sun's effect on tides, because it is so far away from the Earth, is only about half that of the moon. Anyone who has observed tides has noticed that the difference between a high tide and a low tide may change from day to day. The difference between successive high and low waters varies primary because the Sun and moon change position in relation to the earth.

When the moon is at a right angle to the sun, there is a first quarter or third quarter moon. At this time the attractive forces of the sun and moon tend to counteract one another: high tides are lower, and low tides are higher than average. These are called neap tides.

BASIC BOATING TIPS

PADDLING
There will be a time when the wind dies and you are floating around with droopy sails. Don't despair. Turn to your other source of power—yourself. It is time to paddle. If you are alone, lift the rudder out of the water and sit on the stern. Dip the paddle blade fully into the water and pull it back. You can steer by changing sides every few strokes.

If you have a crew, you don't need to lift the rudder. Instead, have the crew drop the jib and paddle from the bow while you steer. Change jobs often. It's tedious work, but better than sitting motionless. Besides, the odds are that if other sailors with engines see you paddling, they may offer you a tow. And if they don't, you will get home eventually.
 

BEACHING YOUR BOAT
If you want to beach your boat for a picnic, simply approach, luff to look for a good spot, and slowly drift or sail gently ashore.
Lift the centerboard gradually as the water gets shallow, and if your rudder is hinged, make sure it bumps up too.
When you actually touch bottom, let the sheets fly, jump into the water with the bow line in hand, and haul your boat up onto the beach.
Drop the sails.
As insurance, even if there isn't much wind, take a couple of turns of the bow line around a tree or rock, or dig in your anchor somewhere nearby.

LIGHTNING
The chances of your boat being struck by lightning are exceedingly small.
The best protection from lightning is to head in to port before the storm. Failing that, you should stay low in the boat and keep your hands off wire shrouds, the mast (if metal), metal fittings.

FOG
Fog can roll in quickly and present you with three problems: there is no wind, you can't see, and you can't be seen. The best thing to do in fog is make noise.
Use your whistle, or bang your paddle against the mast to let other boats know you are there. If you have a rough idea whether land is east or west, you could sail slowly toward land. Another option is to sail a compass course toward shore. Always carry a compass on board.
 

PRACTICE FOR THE UNEXPECTED
You may sail for many happy days and never need any of the advice in this topic. But the
good skipper is always prepared for emergencies.
Practice the crew-overboard maneuver described earlier.
Try capsizing and righting your boat in calm, shallow water close to shore. Be careful not to go all the way over in water too shallow for your mast.
Practice anchoring.
Practice heaving to in a gentle breeze. (It's a great way to take time out from sailing while you eat a picnic lunch.)
Reduce your sail area to see how it might feel to ride out a storm.
In each case, practice will give you confidence to cope with a real emergency quickly and without panic.

  Rules Of The Road

Rule of the road: A general term for the regulations that govern the conduct of vessels in relation to each other, so as to prevent collisions. The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea are in force on the high seas and in many countries, but some other countries such as the USA, have additional regulations which are in force in inland waters, harbors etc. The basic right of way rules are virtually universal and, with certain exceptions for specific situations, may be summarized as follows:

SAILING VESSELS: Whether racing or not when two sailing vessels are approaching each other on opposite tacks, a port tack yacht keeps clear of a starboard tack yacht; when they are on the same tack, a windward yacht keeps clear of a leeward yacht; an overtaking yacht keeps out of the way of any vessel she is overtaking; further regulations are required when racing (see racing rules). The IRPCS add that if a vessel on port tack sees another to windward but cannot be sure which tack she is on, say because a spinnaker is hiding her mainboom, the port tack leeward yacht keeps out of the way of the windward yacht.

With boats going in all directions, it is necessary to have some traffic rules. They have one purpose: to avoid collisions. They are based on a simple idea: if two boats are going to collide, one of them has to get out of the way, and both of them should know which one that is. These are the rules you live by on the water. You need to know them. There is no excuse for a collision.

As two boats approach on a collision course, which one gives way? Sailboat to sailboat, these are the rules:
 

• A boat on a port tack must give way to one on a starboard tack.
• When both boats are on the same tack (wind on the same side), the vessel to windward must give way to a leeward  vessel (the one farthest from the wind).
• Any boat on a port tack must keep clear if its skipper is in doubt about the tack of another boat to windward.

• If a motorboat is being overtaken by a sailboat.
• If a motorboat is operating in a narrow channel and cannot maneuver easily.
• If a motorboat is too large and cumbersome to avoid a sailboat (like a tanker or a tour  boat). Remember, your boat can turn on a dime, but big  boats have a wide turning circle. If it is easier for you to get out of the way, you should.

Even when you have the right of way, you must take action to avoid a collision if another boat fails to give way. Many small motorboat operators just don't know the Rules of the Road, so keep an eye on boats around you. When coming about, be careful that your change of course does not put you across someone else's bow. If someone seems to be all over the place, steer clear.
 

Have fun out there!