More details about the The Flemish Flake
Uses: Flaking a rope is to arrange it on the deck in a particular pattern. The Flemish Flake (ABOK # 3102, p 516) provides an attractive, neat way of temporarily stowing the end of a rope.
Applications:The Flemish Flake is frequently found on docks, keeping the ends of dock lines neat and tidy.
Pros and Cons: The Flemish Flake may be appropriate for dock lines when a boat is docked for a short stay, e.g., overnight. For longer periods it is a deplorable way of treating rope: it gets trodden on, it collects dirt, and it stains the dock or deck with a spiral coil pattern of dirt.
Alternatives: If a dock line is to be left for long periods, the free end is best kept off the dock, e.g., by tying it back to the standing end with a Rolling Hitch.