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radar
An electronic instrument that uses radio
waves to find the distance and location of other objects. Used to avoid
collisions, particularly in times of poor visibility.
radio
An instrument that uses electromagnetic waves to communicate with other vessels.
VHF
(very high frequency) radios are common for marine use, but are limited in
range. SSB
(single sideband) radios have longer ranges.
radio beacon
A navigational aid that emits radio
waves for navigational purposes. The radio beacon's position is known and the
direction of the radio beacon can be determined by using a radio direction
finder.
raft
1) A small flat boat, usually inflatable.
2) To moor
with more than one boat tied together, usually using only one boat's anchor
and rode.
rail
The edge of a boat's deck.
rake
A measurement of the top of the mast's
tilt toward the bow
or stern.
reef
1) To partially lower a sail
so that it is not as large. This helps prevent too much sail from being in use
when the wind gets stronger.
2) A line of rock and coral near the surface of the water.
reefing lines
Lines
used to pull the reef
in the sail.
rhumb line
A line that passes through all meridians
at the same angle. When drawn on a Mercator chart,
the rhumb line is a straight line, because the Mercator chart is a distortion of
a spherical globe on a flat surface. The rhumb line results in a longer course
than a great
circle route.
ride out
To weather a storm, either at sea or at anchor.
riding sail
Also called a stability
sail. Any small sail
set to help the boat maintain its direction without necessarily moving, as when
at anchor
or in heavy weather.
rig
1) A combination of sails
and spars.
2) To prepare the rig before sailing.
rigging
The wires, lines,
halyards
and other items used to attach the sails
and spars
to the boat. The lines that do not have to be adjusted often are known as
standing rigging. The lines that are adjusted to raise, lower and trim
the sails are known as running
rigging.
right
To return a boat to its upright position.
rigid inflatable
A small inflatable boat that has a solid hull
but has buoyancy tubes that are inflated to keep it afloat.
Roaring Forties
A region between 40° South and 50° South where westerly winds circle the earth
unobstructed by land.
rode
A line
or chain attached to an anchor.
roll
A side-to-side motion of the boat, usually caused by waves.
roller furling
A method of storing a sail,
usually by rolling the jib
around the headstay
or rolling the mainsail
around the boom
or on the mast.
roller reefing
A system of reefing
a sail by partially furling
it. Roller
furling systems are not necessarily designed to support roller reefing.
rope
Traditionally, a line
must be over 1 inch in size to be called a rope.
row
A method of moving a boat with oars. The person rowing the boat faces backward,
bringing the blade of the oars out of the water and toward the bow
of the boat, then pulling the oars through the water toward the stern
of the boat, moving the boat forward.
rowboat
A small boat designed to be rowed by use of its oars. Some dinghies
are rowboats.
royal mast
The small mast
next above the topgallant
mast.
rub rail,
rub strake, rub guard
A rail
on the outside of the hull
of a boat to protect the hull from rubbing against piles,
docks
and other objects.
rudder
A flat surface attached behind or underneath the stern,
used to control the direction the boat is traveling.
rudder post
The post that the rudder
is attached to. The wheel
or tiller
is connected to the rudder post.
run aground
To take a boat into water that is too shallow for it to float in; the bottom of
the boat is resting on the ground.
runner
Also known as running
backstay. Adjustable stay
used to control tension on the mast.
running
1) A point
of sail where the boat has the wind coming from aft
of the boat.
2) Used to describe a line
that has been released and is in motion.
running backstay
Also known as a runner.
Adjustable stay
used to control tension on the mast.
running bowline
A type of knot that tightens under load. It is formed by running the line
through the loop formed in a regular bowline.
running lights
Navigational lights that are required to be used when a vessel is in motion.
running rigging
The rigging
used to raise, lower and adjust the sails.
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