Every boating license inevitably comes with a basic set of knots you need to know. Here in Switzerland, these are [with German translations]
- Cleat Hitch [Kopfschlag; Belegen auf Klampe]
- Bowline [Palstek]
- Clove Hitch [Mastwurf; Web(e)lein(en)stek]
- Double Half Hitch [Rundtörn mit zwei halben Schlägen]
- (double) Anchor Bend [(doppelter) Roringstek]
- (double) Sheet Bend [(doppelter) Schotstek]
- Reef Knot [Kreuzknoten]
- Figure-eight Knot [Achtknoten]
I hadn’t come close to any of these knots before in my life. I knew I’d need a lot practice. So I took a trip to the DIY store to buy some lines of different diameters and everything I needed to build this training board with cleats, rings and makeshift bollards made of ventilation duct.
The board went on to sit happily on my kitchen island unit, offering me an opportunity to practice whenever I waited for food to finish cooking. I don’t know how many hours I accumulated, but I sure knew my knots when it was time for the exam.