Red Rope Challenge

Have you heard about the red rope challenge?  I hadn’t heard about it until recently myself.  After little research and talking with the person who introduced me to this, it is simply a knot challenge with the prize at the end being a red rope and bragging rights that you beat the clock.  What is the challenge?  It is tying 14 knots with one rope in less than 1 minute.  The Boy Scouts learn and challenge themselves to do 7 knots with 7 ropes in less than a minute.  Having mastered that (see earlier post), I needed new challenge. So, let’s look at this challenge . . .

The knots (in no particular order):

The 7 Basic Knots

1. Square Knot
2. Clove Hitch
3. Half Hitch
4. Taut Line
5. Timber Hitch
6. Bowline
7. Sheet Bend

Additional 7 knots

1. Sheep Shank
2. Half Hitch
3. Overhand Knot
4. Double Overhand Knot
5. Surgeons Knot
6. Slip Knot
7. Figure 8 Knot

Here is a video which shows the tying of the knots incase you need a little assistance:

Now there is a secret to this challenge.  It is helpful to group the knots together into their families (Hitches, Loops, Bends, etc.).  Another consideration is that there are some knots transition which easily translate into each other.  Organizing the order of the knots will save many seconds, which is, in effect, the point of this challenge.  For example, half hitch, 2 half hitch and taut lines are all part of the hitch family, and they transition into one another quickly and easily.

Knowing the “short cuts” between the knots is also beneficial.  What is the difference between a clove hitch and the Sheep Shank?  When tying these quickly, it is simply an additional loop. There are transitions between the slip knot and the bowline and between the square knot and the sheet bend.  Knowing these short cuts will save you time.

Here is my order and what is currently working for me.  I believe my time for this video was 56 seconds, but my son said that I did a round in 46 seconds.