Fawn and I are taking the Yukon Power and Sail Squadron's Basic Boating Course. I'm really enjoying it, not just because of the useful stuff we're learning, but because it reminds me of way back when, in my university days. Fawn and I met in university and taking this course is just like being in school with her all over again.
I'm getting all nostalgic! ~sniff~
We wrote our Pleasure Craft Operator Certificate exams on Saturday. We both got exactly the same mark with exactly the same one question wrong. We were sitting next to each other when we wrote it, so the instructor commented that it seemed very suspicious. I was just happy to finally have the PCOC done and over with. Fawn, on the other hand, seems unhappy that we got the same mark on the exam. Some things are about this course are not like old times. She's so used to kicking my butt, grade-wise, I think it has hurt her pride a little.
That's not the point of this entry, though. I wanted to talk about knots.
Yesterday afternoon, we did a session on knots with a great ol' guy named Barney who knows his stuff inside-and-out.
When I was a kid, I didn't see much point in learning how to tie knots. What's the big deal, right? Who cares if the loop goes over instead of under and then around and around again and whatever, blah, blah, blah. If it holds, then it's good enough, right?
Then I started sailing and then I started rock climbing and I realized that knowing the real knots - the good knots - can save a lot of time, effort, and frustration, and even a life.
If you've ever been curious about knots but haven't had a good way to learn how to tie them (or which knot to use when), then grab a nice piece of rope and check out Animated Knots by Grog.
Because you never know when you'll need to tie up a bank robber or stop a car from sliding off a seaside cliff.
4 comments:
I totally kicked your butt, even if we got the same mark. Just don't ask me how.
;)
I always have a hard time with remembering all the knots' names.
I did a teaching workshop recently and one of my mini-lessons was on how to tie "The world's fastest shoelace knot":
http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/ianknot.htm
It was a hit! You save time every time. :)
Very cool! I use a different time-saving system, though. One that's even faster! I LEAVE my shoes tied and just slip them on and off. The next time the laces come undone, though, I'm totally trying that one!
Hehe I used to do that too, but now that I'm a poor grad student, I can't afford for my shoes to wear out quickly...
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