I'm from Tulbagh, Western Cape, South Africa. Tulbagh is a small farming community.
Get Pushed Challenge: I have been doing this challenge on and off...
Great shot! What a cool knot. My husband has been sailing since he was little, and the first time he took me, he spent hours teaching me to tie knots. I think you have found one he doesn't know!!
@egad@geocacheking I must be honest, I have no earthly idea how to achieve this knot. I bought this as a training aid for my German Shepherd when she was a puppy and teething. It's quite soft hence you can use it as a tug toy.
@salza@egad I could be wrong but I believe it was used to get ropes from the boat to the shore or dock. Tied in the end of a rope it is very easy to throw and catch with the remaining rope trailing behind it. A great dog toy as well I have used them many times, and in a pinch if you need to beat off an attacker it hurts to get hit by this knot when it gets swinging fast. :)
@salza I've heard it called a Monkey's Fist. There are some good teaching tools online to teach you to tie it if this toy wears out and you have some extra rope lying around. ;) But it does take a bit of time and practice to mater, esp. the tightening part.
Great knot! I like that it's a toy and teething ring. I suppose I could force myself to go to the Yacht Club over the weekend and ask around :) Haha! But it would be SUCH a hardship! :) Maybe Graham ( @ellida ) could add a bit of info ?
Thanks for the mention in dispatches @kwiksilver. Nice shot and fun knot, I agree that it's a monkey's fist (see wikipedia entry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monkey's_fist). The professional line handlers at the Panama Canal used these to throw a fine twine to our boat in the locks, we then hauled the heavier mooring line aboard.
(hehe.... it even rhymes! ;) )