Properly securing a line to a belaying pin starts by leading the line under and behind the base of the pin to begin the figure-8 pattern
left, Lines coiled and secured by belaying pins
A belaying pin is a solid metal or wooden device used on traditionally rigged sailing vessels to secure lines of
running rigging
Running rigging is the rigging of a sailing, sailing vessel that is used for raising, lowering, shaping and controlling the sails on a sailing vessel—as opposed to the standing rigging, which supports the Mast (sailing), mast and bowsprit. Runn ...
. Largely replaced on most modern vessels by
cleats
Cleat may refer to:
* Cleat (nautical), a fitting on ships, balls, and balls to which ropes are tied
* Cleat hitch, a knot
* Cleat, Orkney, a List of places in Orkney#C, place in Scotland
* Cleat (shoe), a type or part of a shoe
* Cleats (comic st ...
, they are still used, particularly on
square rig
Square rig is a generic type of sail plan, sail and rigging arrangement in which a sailing ship, sailing vessel's primary driving sails are carried on horizontal spar (sailing), spars that are perpendicular (or wikt:square#Adjective, square) to t ...
ged ships.
A belaying pin is composed of a round handle and cylindrical shaft. The shaft is inserted into a hole in various strategically located wooden ''pinrails'' (lining the inside of the
bulwarks, surrounding the base of masts, or free-standing, called
fife rails) up to the base of the handle. A line is then led under and behind the base of the pin then round the top in a Figure-8 pattern till at least four
turns are complete.
Excess line is coiled and stored neatly by taking a
bight from the upper part of the final strand, looping it over and round beneath the coil, then twisting it once or more before slipping the twisted end over the top of the belaying pin to secure the coil in place.
References
External links
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{{Sail types
Sailing rigs and rigging