RACON, Radar, Radar Reflector, Radio Beacon, Radio Bearing,
Radio-Direction-Finder, Radio Waves, Rafting, Rail, Rake, Ram,
Range, Ratlines, Reach, Reciprocal Bearing, Reciprocal Course,
Red Buoy, Red Daymark, Red-Right-Returning, Red Sector, Reef,
Reef Cringle, Reef Hook, Reef Knot, Reef Points, Reefing Claw,
Reefing Lines, Reefing Ties, Reeve, Reference Station, Regatta,
Relative Bearing, Relative Wind, Retired-Line-Of-Position,
Retractable Keel, Rhumb Line, Ride Out, Riding Light, Riding Sail,
Rig, Rigging, Right-hand Buoy, Righting, Right-Of-Way, Roach,
Roach Reef, Roaring Fourties, Rode, Rove, Roll, Roller Furling,
Roller Reefing, Rolling Hitch, Rope, Rota, Round Bottom, Rounding,
Rudder, Rudder Post, Rudder Stock, Rudder Trunk, Rules-Of-The-Road,
Run, Run Afoul, Run Aground, Runner, Running, Running Backstays,
Running Bowline, Running Fix, Running Lights, Running Rigging.
RACON
(Radio Beacon)
Radio Waves specifically used for navigational purposes. The
position and direction of a RAdio BeaCON (RACON) is
determined by using a Radio-Direction-Finder (RDF).
RADAR
(RAdio Detection And Ranging)
An electronic instrument that uses Radio Waves to find the distance
and location of other objects. Used by Maritime Vessels to avoid
collisions, especially in rough weather with poor visibility.
RADAR REFLECTOR
An object designed to increase the reflectivity of Radio Waves off a
Vessel so that it is more visible on a Radar screen.
RADIO BEACON
(See RACON)
RADIO BEARING
A Bearing taken with a Radio-Direction-Finder (RDF) toward a RACON.
RADIO-DIRECTION-FINDER
(Direction-Finder)
A radio receiver On Board a Vessel used with a Directional Antenna
to find the direction from which a Radio Beacon is transmitting.
The Direction-Finder helps determine a Radio Bearing of the
Vessel's position at Sea.
RADIO WAVES
Waves in the electromagnetic spectrum, each having a wavelength
between one millimeter and thirty thousand meters, or a frequency
between ten kilohertz (kHz) and 300,000 megahertz (MHz), used for the
purpose of communication between Vessels and Maritime radio
navigation stations.
RAFTING
(Rafted)
The Mooring procedure where two or more Vessels are tied together,
side-by-side, at a Dock or to one single boat securely Anchored.
RAIL
The topmost piece along the Bulwarks.
(Also, see BOW-PULPIT-RAIL, GUARDRAIL, GUNWALE, TAFFRAIL, and TOE-RAIL)
RAKE
The angle of the Mast toward the Bow or Stern.
RAM
When a Vessel collides into another Vessel or object, such as a Pier,
when Underway with no attempt by the Helm to avoid Collision.
RANGE
1. A Vessel's maximum distance with existing fuel and supplies.
2. A Line-Of-Position (LOP) whose direction is self-evident from
the two points that establish it.
(Also, see TRANSIT MARKS)
3. The difference between High Tide and Low Tide.
RATLINES
Small Lines that traverse the Shrouds horizontally, usually found on
Tall Ships, and used as ladders when going Aloft.
REACH
Sailing a Heading that is between Close-Hauled and Before-The-Wind.
(Also, see CLOSE REACH, BEAM REACH, and BROAD REACH)
RECIPROCAL BEARING
A Bearing in a direction exactly 180° to a given direction.
RECIPROCAL COURSE
The Course that is the exact opposite of a given Course by 180°.
[e.g., When a Vessel is Sailing on a Course of 180° and is in a
Head On Situation with another Vessel, the Course of the other
Vessel is a Reciprocal Course of 0°.]
RED BUOY
(See NUN BUOY)
RED DAYMARK
(Red-Right-Returning)
A red square Aid-To-Navigation (ATON) used in the United States
and Canada to mark Channels.
(Also, see GREEN DAYMARK)
RED-RIGHT-RETURNING
Slang for the rule of keeping the Red Daymark on the right
(Starboard) of the Vessel when Returning from Sea.
(See RED DAYMARK)
RED SECTOR
The Red (Running Light) Sector on the Port side from Dead Ahead
to 22.5° Abaft the Port Beam. Other Vessels approaching the
Red Sector are Burdened Vessels and must Give Way.
(Also, see GREEN SECTOR and WHITE SECTOR)
REEF
(Flattening Reef, Roach Reef)
1. To reduce the amount of Sail area by lowering the Head and
shortening the Foot of the Mainsail.
2. A line of rock or coral near the surface of the water.
REEF CRINGLE
A reinforced Cringle in the Leech of the Sail designed to hold the
Reefing Line.
REEF HOOK
The small hook on the Boom to which the Luff Cringle is attached
when Jiffy Reefing.
REEF KNOT
(See SQUARE KNOT)
REEF POINTS
Short Lanyards sewn along the Sail parallel to the Boom. Reef Points
are tied with Reef Knots to Secure the Bunt along the Foot of a
Reefed Sail
REEFING CLAW
(Boom Claw, Claw Ring)
An adjustable Claw-like Fitting that encircles the Boom to which the
upper Mainsheet Block is Shackled. The Reefing Claw is used in place
of the Fixed Boom Strap when Reefing the Mainsail around the Boom.
REEFING LINES
(Reefing Pendants)
Lines led back inside and exiting out the Aft end of the Boom.
Reefing Lines are Rove through the Reef Cringle at the Leech
of the Sail. When Reefing Lines are Tensioned, the Reefed
Clew is drawn to the Boom and the Sail area is reduced.
REEFING TIES
(Reef Points)
Short pieces of Line (Lanyards) attached in a row and at equal-distant
points along the Sail for tying down the bottom of the Reefed Sail.
REEVE
Leading Lines through objects like Blocks, Clews, Fairleads, etc.
(Also, see ROVE)
REFERENCE STATION
(See STANDARD PORT)
REGATTA
1. A Sailboat race.
2. An organized series of Sailboat races.
RELATIVE BEARING
A Bearing measured on the Vessel with reference to its heading
starting from the Bow and moving clockwise, where 000° is Dead
Ahead, 090° is Broad-On-The-Starboard Beam, 180° is Dead Astern,
270° is Broad-On-The-Port Beam, and returning to the Bow at 360°.
RELATIVE WIND
Wind generated from a Vessel's motion.
(Also, see APPARENT WIND and TRUE WIND)
RETIRED-LINE-OF-POSITION
(See RUNNING FIX)
RETRACTABLE KEEL
(Drop Keel)
A Keel that is not fixed, similar to a Dagger-Board on smaller
Sailing Dinghies, which can be raised and lowered from within
the Hull of a larger Sailing Vessel.
(Also, see SWING KEEL)
RHUMB LINE
1. A Navigation line on a Chart that cuts all Meridians at the same angle.
2. The Course of a Vessel that maintains a constant Compass Direction.
(Also, see MERCATOR PROJECTION)
RIDE OUT
To Weather a storm, either at Sea or at Anchor.
RIDING LIGHT
(See ANCHOR LIGHT)
RIDING SAIL
(Steadying Sail)
A small Sail Set in Heavy Weather for the purpose of maintaining the
direction of a Vessel, while providing little or no forward motion.
(Also, see STORM SAIL)
RIG
1. A term indicating Sail Set preparation.
[e.g., "Rig the Spinnaker for a Starboard Set."]
2. A term indicating the type of Sailboat.
[e.g., "There's a difference between a Cat Rig and Sloop Rig boat."]
RIGGING
Cable, Rope, and other items used to attach Spars to the boat as
well as Lines and Halyards used to adjust Sails.
(Also, see RUNNING RIGGING and STANDING RIGGING)
RIGHT-HAND BUOY
(See NUN BUOY)
RIGHTING
To return a Vessel back to its upright position.
RIGHT-OF-WAY
A term used to designate a Vessel's privilege over other boats
under certain conditions such as in a Channel or a Sailboat Regatta.
[The only place where the term "Right-Of-Way" appears in the Inland
Rules, is where this rule takes effect on the Great Lakes, Western
Rivers, and narrow Channels with (downbound) currents. The rules
require that all Vessels in a narrow Channel or fairway keep to the
right. That is, Vessels traveling with the (downbound) current have
the Right-of-Way.]
(Also, see STAND-ON VESSEL)
ROACH
The convexity at the Leech of a Sail.
(Also, see CAMBER)
ROACH REEF
(See REEF)
ROARING FOURTIES
The Ocean region, between 40° and 50° South Latitude, where
westerly winds blow unobstructed by land.
RODE
(Anchor Line)
40 to 50 meters of three-strand nylon line Made Fast to a Cleat on
the boat and extending to a three-meter to five-meter Chain Leader
connected to the Anchor at the Bottom.
(Also, see SCOPE and GROUND TACKLE)
ROVE
The past tense of Reeve.
ROLL
A Vessel's side-to-side motion in Waves.
(Also, see PITCHING AND YAWING)
ROLLER FURLING
Rolling the Jib around the Headstay and the Mainsail around the Boom.
ROLLER REEFING
Reefing a Sail by partial Furling.
ROLLING HITCH
A Knot used to attach a Line to a Spar or similar object.
ROPE
Cordage not configured into Running Rigging.
ROTA
Rota is short for rotation of the twenty-four hour Watch cycle
On Board a Vessel.
ROUND BOTTOM
A Hull with no Chine. The sides curve all the way to the Keel.
ROUNDING
A term used to designate when a Vessel is moving in a circle.
[e.g., "The first boat is Rounding the Mark"]
RUDDER
The vertical blade attached to the Stern of the Vessel and submerged
below the Waterline. The Rudder cuts through the water and pivots on
its Rudderpost. A Tiller, which is connected to the Rudder by a
Rudder Stock, allows one to pivot the Rudder thus, providing
the means by which to Steer the boat.
RUDDERPOST
The vertical member of a Stern frame on which the Rudder is hung.
(Also, see STERNPOST)
RUDDER STOCK
The steel rod that is inserted through the Rudder Trunk, to which
the Tiller above is connected to the Rudder below.
RUDDER TRUNK
The watertight tube built into the Hull from the Cockpit Sole or Deck
to the bottom of the boat, through which the Rudder Stock is inserted.
RULES-OF-THE-ROAD
(Inland Navigation Rules)
Maritime regulations augmenting the International Regulations for
Preventing Collisions at Sea (IRPCS), for Vessels traveling on
Bays, Channels, Harbors, Inland Lakes, and rivers.
(Also see COLREGS)
RUN
(Running)
1. The Point-Of-Sail where the Vessel is Before-The-Wind,
with the Sheets Eased entirely out.
2. The distance a Vessel has traveled between two points, whether
it be time or place.
RUN AFOUL
To have a Collision with a floating Hazard or another Vessel.
RUN AGROUND
(Aground)
A Vessel, still Afloat, with its Keel on the Bottom.
(Also, see HARD AGROUND)
RUNNER
(See RUNNING BACKSTAY)
RUNNING
(See RUN)
RUNNING BACKSTAY
(Runner)
Adjustable Stay attached to the Mast near the upper Spreaders and Fixed
Aft to the Side Deck. When Underway, the Windward Runner is Tensioned
to support the Mast while the Leeward Runner remains Slack to avoid
Fouling Sails.
RUNNING BOWLINE
A type of Knot that tightens under load. It is formed by running
the Standing Part through the loop formed in a regular Bowline.
RUNNING FIX
(R Fix)
When a Bearing is taken from only one identifiable object such as a
single Landmark or observed Heavenly Body, the Running Fix is used
to determine the Vessel's position on the water. The Running Fix is
made from a moving Vessel by taking Bearings of a single object over
different times, the course and distance run between observations
determine the location of the Vessel. For example, a Vessel sails
for one hour from the first Position Line laid off on the Chart
and a second Bearing is taken--either off the same object observed
earlier or another object--whereupon, a second Position Line is
laid off on the Chart as an Advanced-Position-Line or Retired-
Position-Line. In Tidal Waters, Set and Rate of the Tidal Current
(Tidal Stream) are factored in. A Running Fix is not as accurate
as a Fix, because one of its intersecting Lines-Of-Position (LOP) is
derived from a different time, requiring one to make assumptions
based on an estimated prior position.
(Also, see ADVANCED-POSITION-LINE and FIX)
RUNNING LIGHTS
Navigation Lights displayed when a Sailing Vessel is Underway.
[e.g., A Sailing Vessel Underway at night uses a red light visible from
its Port Bow, a Green light on the Starboard Bow, each visible from
either side of the boat at an arc of 112.5°, from Dead Ahead to a
point 22.5° Aft of the Beam. Also a white light is displayed on
the Stern, visible from the rear of the boat at an arc of 135°.]
(Also, see DAY SHAPES, GREEN SECTOR, RED SECTOR, RIDING LIGHT,
STEAMING LIGHT, and TOWING LIGHT)
RUNNING RIGGING
Halyards and Lines used to raise, lower, and Trim the Sails.
[Not to be confused with STANDING RIGGING]
