Knot of the Week: Round Turn and Two Half Hitches
If there’s one knot that quietly does a lot of heavy lifting on boats, it’s this one. The round turn and two half hitches is strong, tidy, adjustable, and kind to ropes and cleats. It’s my go-to for tying a dinghy up to a pontoon, ring, or post on the Thames.
Simple to tie. Hard to get wrong. Exactly what you want when the wind’s up and spectators are watching.
What is it good for?
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Tying a boat to a ring, post, or pontoon
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Mooring where you want security but easy release
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Situations where the rope might be under load
The magic is in the round turn — those first wraps take most of the strain, leaving the half hitches just to keep things neat and secure.
How to tie it: simple stages
Stage 1: Make the round turn
Pass the rope around the post or ring twice (or even three times if things are lively).
These turns take the load and stop the rope slipping.
👉 Tip: If you stop here, you can already hold the boat safely while you finish the knot.
Stage 2: First half hitch
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Pass it over and around the standing part
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Feed it back through the loop
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Pull it snug
That’s your first half hitch.
Stage 3: Second half hitch
Repeat the same move:
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Another half hitch
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Sitting neatly next to the first
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Pull tight
Done. Strong, secure, and easy to undo later.
Why sailors love this knot
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✅ Very secure under load
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✅ Easy to untie (even after a long sail)
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✅ Doesn’t jam or damage the rope
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✅ Works brilliantly with wet hands
On a river like the Thames, where stream and wind love to have opinions, this knot just gets on with the job.
Common mistakes to avoid
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❌ Too few turns at the start (the round turn matters!)
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❌ Half hitches tied the wrong way so they don’t lock neatly
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❌ Leaving everything loose instead of snug and tidy
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