The Knot Pack

Publisher: Adlard Coles Nautical; £12.99
Publication Date: 2009

The 41st in our collection of books about knots is a little different. It covers 50 of the “most important knots – ideal for anchoring, mooring, berthing and securing your boat.” It does, of course cover a range of loops, bends and hitches in the broad category of “knots”. Geoffrey Budworth was a founder member of the International Guild of Knot Tyers and would be the right person to explain to us why the sheet bend is described in a rival book by the same publisher (CA 17064) as “very strong” but is here rated only 1 on a scale rising to 5 high. In fact I find it unfortunate that each knot etc is so rated but I could find no explanation of how “strength” was calculated. Nic Compton is a past editor of Classic Boat.

The slim volume describes each subject, its use and how it is tied with some good diagrams. A useful glossary of terms is provided and some sources of further information. What gives this its unique quality is that the slim volume is in a box contained in a slip case which also houses two lengths of small multiplait cord of different colours for practice – “without pestering the bosun” . And the pack also contains ten waterproof cards showing how to form the most useful knots in use in sailing. This is an elegant little pack as a gift for someone new to sailing and several of the descriptions have useful application ashore. – Michael Davey