Essential sailing knots

Meg PhillipsMeg Phillips
Intermediate Program Plan | Learn to Sail

Learn the essential sailing knots:

  • Figure 8
  • Bowline
  • Square Knot
  • Half Hitch
  • Cleat Hitch
  • Clove Hitch
  • Double overhanded stopper
Square knot
Half hitch
Stopper knot
Cleat hitch

Five essential sailing knots required for Optimist sailors and 420 sailors

  1. Square knot
  2. Half hitch
  3. Stopper knot
  4. Cleat hitch
  5. Bowline

Knot combinations you should know:

  1. Dock pole 2 wraps and 2 half hitches
  2. Two half hitches and stopper knot