Possible Clues:

• It doesn't really make fast relative speed
• Relative difficulty in loosening tie?
• Not the old lady, by the sound of it
• Perhaps loosening tie that may be too tight
• By the sound of it, that's other than the stringy old lady
• Rope fastening
• Unstable type of reef?
• One of the family ties?
• Boy Scout's creation, perhaps
• Result of not tying a reef properly