Quote:
There really aren't any benefits to additional wraps of the line around the cleat or extra figure eights. They just increase the chance that the line will jam and make it much more difficult to release the line.
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You've probably got clam
cleats on your boat, but if you don't, you never hitch the sheets or the halyards. After so long under a hard load, the hitch will lock up to the point where you can't get it off. Instead of a hitch you do multible figure eights around the
cleat, usualy three complete wrap in total. This gives enough friction that you don't need a hitch. It also allows you to remove one wrap at a time, by compressing the underlying
line while you remove the top
line. You do this untill you have just enough friction left to control the release of say the main sheet.
By the way, if you use three strand, you need to make sure that your keeping the right hand lay when ever you
cleat off.