Knots and the parts of the boat
Ready when: nothing, this is the first card.
What you are learning
Three knots every sailor uses (the figure of eight that stops a rope slipping out, the bowline that makes a loop which does not slide, and the cleat hitch that ties a rope to a fitting) and the names of the parts of a small sailing boat.
Words on this card Dinghy, Bow, Tiller, Boom, Mainsheet, Centreboard, Cleat, Figure of eight
- Dinghy
- A small open sailing boat; the Optimist is a small one-person boat made for children.
- Bow
- The front and the back of the boat.
- Tiller
- The stick used to steer, joined to the rudder at the back.
- Boom
- The pole along the bottom of the sail, which swings across when the boat turns.
- Mainsheet
- The rope that pulls the sail in or lets it out.
- Centreboard
- The board pushed down through the middle of the boat to stop it sliding sideways.
- Cleat
- A fitting to tie a rope to, and the knot used on it.
- Figure of eight
- A stopper knot, a fixed loop, and a knot that ties two ends together.
Set up
A length of rope; a chair leg as a cleat; a picture of a dinghy.
Weather: any weather
Show it first for the one teaching
- Figure of eight: make a loop, go round the rope, and back down through the loop. It looks like an 8.
- Bowline: a small loop; the end comes up through it, round behind the rope and back down the small loop.
- Cleat hitch: once round the chair leg, then a figure of eight across it, then a twist to lock it.
- Point to each part of the dinghy picture and say its name.
Your part while they practise
Show each knot slowly.
Step by step
- Figure of eight.
- Bowline.
- Cleat hitch.
- Name the parts: bow, stern, tiller, boom, mainsheet, centreboard.
How much: 3 knots, 3 times each 10 min a session 3 days a week
Say one thing Pick one line from "What you will see" for today and say only that.
The game: Point and name
You point at a part of the picture, the child names it; then a knot race.
Who plays: the child against you or against their own best.
How to play, turn by turn
- Turns
- Point at 6 parts of the picture, one at a time
- Then call a knot; both tie it; the first to finish holds it up
- Check the knot by pulling it. 3 knots
- Fair play
- A grown-up ties with one hand behind the back for one knot.
- Points
- 1 point for each part named; 2 points for each knot tied first that holds.
- Fouls
- No points
- A knot that slips or comes undone when pulled
- Pointing without saying the name
- Starting the knot before the call
- Winning
- More points at the end.
- 6 points for 1 star
- 9 points for 2 stars
- 12 points for 3 stars
Easier or harder
One knot.
Three knots in a minute.
What you will see, and what to say
- the knot slips
Check the loop and tuck
Follow the rope through. - the child forgets the name
Say it and point
Name it every time.
Self-check
Tie a figure of eight and a cleat hitch without help, 3 times each.
Fitness for this
Warm up first: how to warm up, at workonfitness.com. For strength and stretching, its exercise library shows each exercise step by step, with an easier version.
This card trains knots, sailing words.
awiseathlete.com/sports/sailing/sailing-b1