A turn is one round of

rope A rope is a group of yarns, plies, fibres, or strands that are twisted or braided together into a larger and stronger form. Ropes have tensile strength and so can be used for dragging and lifting. Rope is thicker and stronger than similarl ...

on a pin or cleat, or one round of a coil. Turns can be made around various objects, through rings, or around the

standing part A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices: a ''hitch'' fastens a rope to another object; a ...

of the rope itself or another rope. A turn also denotes a component of a

knot A knot is an intentional complication in cordage which may be practical or decorative, or both. Practical knots are classified by function, including hitches, bends, loop knots, and splices: a ''hitch'' fastens a rope to another object; a ...

. When the legs of a loop are brought together and crossed the rope has taken a turn. One distinguishes between single turn, round turn, and two round turns depending on the number of revolutions around an object. The benefit of round turns is best understood from the

capstan equation The capstan equation or belt friction equation, also known as Euler-Eytelwein's formula (after Leonhard Euler and Johann Albert Eytelwein), relates the hold-force to the load-force if a flexible line is wound around a cylinder (a bollard, a ...

Riding turn

A riding turn is a section of rope that passes on top of another section of rope, often parallel or at only a slight angle to the section below. Examples of riding turns can be seen in both the

constrictor knot The constrictor knot is one of the most effective binding knots.Clifford W. Ashley, ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' (New York: Doubleday, 1944), 224-225.Brion Toss, ''The Complete Rigger's Apprentice'' (Camden, Maine: International Marine, 1998), 1 ...

and the

strangle knot The strangle knot is a simple binding knot. Similar to the constrictor knot, it also features an overhand knot under a riding turn. A visible difference is that the ends emerge at the outside edges, rather than between the turns as for a const ...

. The second course of wrappings in some seizing knots can be referred to as riding turns. The formation of an unintentional riding turn on a sailing

winch A winch is a mechanical device that is used to pull in (wind up) or let out (wind out) or otherwise adjust the tension of a rope or wire rope (also called "cable" or "wire cable"). In its simplest form, it consists of a spool (or drum) attach ...

can cause it to jam.

Single hitch

A single hitch is a type of

. This hitch is actually a turn tied around an object where the end is secured by its own standing part.Clifford W. Ashley, ''The Ashley Book of Knots'' (New York: Doubleday, 1944), fig. 49

References

{{Knots Knot components

Riding turn

Single hitch

See also

References