A tiller's hitch like this:<br> <br>is basically a sheet bend with a quick-release tail. It requires a deliberate action to release (a tug on the "tail"). The knot I described should release automatically. Although, if you tied the tiller's hitch backward, putting the load on the tail, it would work the same way as the knot I described (good call).<br><br>By the way, the above diagram is a good example of tying a knot around a bight, the bight being the black rope. That might be helpful in interpreting my earlier description.