Glossary Archive

Roller furling is used on sailing boats to roll or unroll a sail, typically the jib or genoa, around a stay to quickly deploy or stow the sail. Roller furling is a popular sail handling system on modern sailboats, designed to make managing headsails more efficient and safer, especially for short-handed crews. The system consists...

A system or mechanism that allows a sail to be partially or fully rolled up, often used to manage sail area efficiently.  Roller reefing is a widely used technique in sailing, particularly on modern yachts and cruising vessels, to simplify the process of reducing sail area when conditions become too windy or when less sail...

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

Turning towards the wind, often quickly or unintentionally. This may happen when a sailing vessel is overpowered, badly balanced, hit by a gust, or steered too sharply. As the bow turns up, the sails may lose drive and flap, and the vessel may slow or stop. A controlled turn towards the wind is useful for...

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