Folding Rope Explained :- Plus 3 Ways to FOLD it

With the transition to braided rather than spun ropes many sailors create issues for their next trip on the water due to the way they coil their sheets and halyards at the end of a day sailing.

Traditional oval coils are great for spun rope but issues are created when using this method to store modern braided rope. When creating coils with spun rope the lay of the rope inserts turns into the rope as you create your neat ovals, this is fine in spun rope as it neutralises the natural twist which are built into the rope. This method is however a problem for braided rope where there are no twist built into the rope due to the way the weave is created. Creating coils inserts a twist into the rope, added together these can get bundled up to form kinks and knots when the rope is laid out to be used.

The solution to this problem is to fold your rope. The are multiple ways to fold your rope, in each instance you will create a bundle of rope without twists which will flow freely the next time you go to use your sheets or halyards.

Folding rope has some other benefits, especially for long sheets or halyards where it may be difficult to create the coils as you can not hold all the coils in one hand. Folding your rope over your shoulders or a fix object like a winch is the best way to neatly store long lengths of thick rope.

Use the links to the chapters in the video to jump ahead to demonstration that interest you most.

0:00 Introduction
2:11 Coiling Spun Rope
3:13 Folding Method 1- In your hand
5:35 Folding Method 2 - Over Your shoulders
8:36 Folding Method 3 - Over a fixed object

Folding rope is simple to learn the only issue may be forgetting the way many of us have been taught to coil rope into nice ovals. If you want issue free sailing with fast sail hoists and drops, plus free flowing sheets every member of your crew must learn how to fold your sheets and halyards at the end of a days racing or cruising.

The team at bottom up boats hope your end enjoyed todays folding rope demonstration, if you made it this fair why not subscribe to join the Bottom Up Boats CREW.....