Basic cabuyeria

Cabuyería is the art of knot tying, which is necessary in many current professional (military, researchers, engineers) and sporting activities (sailing, climbing, caving, fishing, camping, survival, etc.).

All seamen by the nature of their trade have the need to master the art of tying knots, which have their origin and nomenclature in the daily demands on board, either to facilitate maneuvering with sails, stow material, etc.; therefore, knowing its use and the ability and skill to elaborate it, is basic. The knots have been and are an important complement to the daily life of all people, from ancient times to the present; so it is not surprising that even today, despite the great technological advances, we maintain dependence on many of the knots that our ancestors created.

Knots have a very special terminology that is interesting to know. As you all know, knots are made with ropes and this is where it starts to get complicated. 

On board a sailboat the ropes are no longer called ropes, but lines. As each line has a different function, it also receives a different name, such as sheet, bowline, halyard, halyard, reefing, springs, longs, reefs, reefing, etc.

The ropes used can be made of the following materials:

1. Naturals:
   1. ​Hemp
   2. Sisal
   3. Jute 
2. Synthetics: Replacing nowadays the natural ones.
   1. ​Nylon
   2. Polyester
   3. Polypropylene
   4. Aramid

Parts of a line and related terminology:

• The firm is the part of the line around which the knot is tied.
• The sine is the one that forms the line when it is not working or when a knot is tied.
• The whip is the name given to the end of a line. Every line has two whips.
• The thickness of a line is known as mena.

Knots have multiple uses, which is why there are a multitude of types and classifications according to their function.

Types of knots:

• Stopper knots
• Splice knots and fittings
• Braiding knots
• Gauze knots
• Tie knots, cotes and loops
• Sliding knots
• Knots for shortening
• Fishing knots
• Flat knots
• Loop knots

Basic considerations that a knot must meet to be practical:

1. Easy to perform, since in adverse weather conditions you must be able to do it.
2. That it fulfills the function for which it is designed; to tie, to secure, to be slippery… without unraveling accidentally or when subjected to force or tension (a good knot becomes firmer the more tension it is subjected to).
3. Easy to undo, i.e., cold, water or tension should not prevent us from recovering the rope or letting go, since cutting or abandoning the rope is not an option.

Basic marine knots

1. Single figure-eight knot: This is of great importance to sailors and people who sail. It is a stopper knot used to prevent a rope from escaping from pulleys, eyelets or eyebolts. It is easily loosened.
   
2. Plain or Curl Knot: is used to join two lines. It is a knot that comes loose relatively easily so it must be subject to constant tension. It would be useful to combine it with a stopper knot to prevent one rope from slipping over the other.
   
3. Ace of Guide knot: is one of the most used and well known. It forms a fixed loop at the end of a line to hold another line or any object. At sea it is used for moving rigging, lifting loads and salvage work. Although it is easy to make, it is easy to undo and does not slip. It tends to slacken on very stiff ropes.
   
4. Crossbowstring knot: is used to quickly attach a line to a handrail, post or eyebolt. It is easy to tighten and untighten so it can be loosened. It is sometimes supplemented with a safety knot.
   
5. Briol knot: is used to knot lines, sheets or halyards to carabiners, eyebolts or shackles. It is a very used knot and as its name indicates it was used to secure the “briol” to the foot of a sail. Once this knot has been worked under tension and humidity, it will be very difficult to undo, so it is not recommended in situations that require rapid untying.
   
6. Sheeting knot: is used to join ropes of different menas, one thicker and the other thinner, bearing in mind that the thinner rope is the one to be used to make turns around the sine, which should be formed with the thicker rope. Always keep it under a stable tension as it could easily come loose.