SVN solovelanet · video

What this video covers

Antioco Tilocca, a former boatswain of the *Amerigo Vespucci*, demonstrates professional-grade knot-tying techniques for mooring and fender management. Tilocca advises against the common practice of starting a cleat hitch with a full round turn (the "zero"), arguing that it causes the line to jam under tension, making it difficult to release in an emergency.3:50 Instead, he recommends three figure-eight turns followed by a half-hitch to ensure security and ease of release.3:13 For mooring lines, he advocates for a double bowline to reduce wear and distribute load, noting that any knot reduces a line's breaking strength by approximately 50 percent.8:22 He suggests using eye splices for permanent mooring lines, which retain up to 90 percent of the line's strength.8:36 Additionally, Tilocca demonstrates the clove hitch and the "matafione" (a quick-release variation of the clove hitch) for securing fenders, emphasizing that the latter allows for rapid deployment or release, a technique derived from handling sails on tall ships.10:30

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