Halyard Hitch
( Jeanneau Halyard Knot )
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Usage
The Halyard Hitch (also known as the Jeanneau Halyard Knot) is a compact, robust knot used to secure a line to a shackle in yachting or sailing, often when splicing the line to hardware is not practical. It is highly reliable for hoisting sails or flags, providing a firm hold. Once tightened under load, the knot becomes nearly impossible to untie, making it a semi-permanent solution. It is comparable to the Buntline Hitch, but specifically designed for halyard applications where a strong, reliable knot is needed without the ability to easily untie it afterward.
Common Uses
- attach a rope to a ring or connector for hoisting a flag.
- secure a line to a fitting for raising a sail.
- tie a rope to a ring where it must hold under repeated raising and lowering.
- fasten a rope to a small fitting that is hard to grip with other knots.
- permanently attach a halyard to a shackle at the masthead.
- secure a mooring line to a shackle or ring where the line alternates between tension and slack.
- attach a halyard to a sail for hoisting.
Warning ⚠️
Verify tying technique with a skilled instructor where knot failure could cause property damage, injury, or death.
Also known as
- Jeanneau Halyard Knot
Structure
The Halyard Hitch is similar in structure to the Poachers Knot and Scaffold Knot. Unlike those knots, the Halyard Hitch cannot be used as a noose since the object to which the hitch is secured keeps the working end in place and prevents it from coming undone.
Strength/Reliability
The working end of the Halyard Hitch is typically trimmed short and thus should never be used for critical loads where failure could cause injury to persons or property.
