The mast was tall, the knots were tight, and the ropes stank, but didn't give up — she snaked out of the ties

The mast was tall, the knots were tight, and the ropes stank, but didn't give up — she snaked out of the ties and stood triumphantly before the judges while the other participants were still wriggling in the ropes like flies in a spiderweb. A victory — and an honest one at that!