A series of Marling Hitches can be used to lash a sail to its boom or yard or to secure a bundle of sail to a guardrail or to the boom.
Each of the series of Hitches is formed by passing the line down around the sail bundle (for example), up over the part lying along the sail and then tucked down under itself in a direction on along the bundle of sail. The diagram and photograph show this. Instead of tucking the working end down under itself it may just as well be tucked upwards. In both cases the effect is a chain of overhand knots spaced out along the sail.
