Usage
A Flemish Flake is a spiral coil of rope upon the deck of a boat. "Flake" is a sailor term for a turn in an ordinary coil, or for a complete tier in a flat coil. The Flemish Flake is one layer thick and is intended to be unobtrusive and can be walked on if necessary. It is meant for temporary storage only. A Flemish Flake is also referred to as a "Cheese".
History
The term "flake" in the context of rope work is mentioned in the "Boteler’s Dialogues", circa 1634, by Nathaniel Boteler (Butler). Boteler served as a sea captain and a colonial administrator in the early Stuart period (1603-1714) in British history. Connected by patronage to the Earl of Warwick, he was appointed to the Somers Isles (Bermuda) Company in 1622 and was responsible for building up the colony and its early institutions.
Also known as
ABOK
Structure
The Flemish Flake is, in mathematical terms, an Archimedean spiral. Although a circular spiral is the most common form, the flake/cheese can be made in different shapes, e.g. oblong, to fit the space.
Note
In the animation, the spiral starts at the outside and spirals in. This is because the rope will likely be attached to something on a ship and the excess needs to be stowed in a neat and tidy way. Estimating the initial size of the outer loop may take some trial and error and the final form may need some adjustment to make it look uniform and attractive. The flake may also be tied starting at the interior and spiraling outwards, but only if the rope is relatively short and not attached to something.
