Glossary Archive

A roller reef is a method of reducing sail area on a sailboat by partially rolling or furling the sail around the boom or the headstay. This allows the sailor to quickly and easily adjust the amount of sail exposed to the wind to control the boat's speed and performance in changing wind conditions. Roller...

Pronounced: ROW-me-oh The term for the letter R in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.

To head up into the wind

A spare fender, held ready by a crew member in case of emergencies. A roving fender is a type of fender used on boats and ships to protect the hull from damage caused by contact with other vessels, docks, or structures. Roving fenders are typically cylindrical in shape and can be easily moved or adjusted...

The volunteer crewed rescue service providing 24-hour rescue services around the UK and Irish coastline. They also provide seasonal lifeguards who look after people on busy beaches. The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland dedicated to saving lives at sea. Founded in 1824,...

The national governing body for sailing, motorboating, and other recreational boating activities in the United Kingdom.  The Royal Yachting Association (RYA) is responsible for promoting and regulating boating activities, ensuring safety standards, and providing training and certification for sailors and powerboaters. Established in 1875, the RYA oversees a wide range of disciplines, including dinghy sailing,...

The Racing Rules of Sailing (RRS) governs the sport of sailboat and sailboard racing. It is revised and published every four years by World Sailing.

A rudder is a flat, movable surface attached to the stern of a boat or ship. It is used to steer the vessel by redirecting water flow. The rudder is a critical component of a vessel's steering system, typically located at the stern (rear) of the boat. It is usually a flat, vertical surface that...

The rudder stock houses the mechanism that transfers the movement of the wheel or tiller to the rudder, thereby steering the yacht

These Rules shall apply to all vessels upon the high seas and in all waters connected therewith navigable by seagoing vessels. Nothing in these Rules shall interfere with the operation of special rules made by an appropriate authority for roadsteads, harbours, rivers, lakes or inland waterways connected with the high seas and navigable by seagoing...