Glossary
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TermDefinition
- Organisation RINA
An internationally renowned professional institution representing naval architects and marine engineers worldwide. It was founded in 1860 and is...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Risk of Collision
The possibility that a collision may occur, usually established by taking a compass bearing of an approaching vessel. Defined in Rule 7 - Risk of...
More Details - Flag Semaphore, Signals & Communication Letter R (Flag Semaphore)

Flag semaphore indicating the letter R.
- Morse Code, Signals & Communication Letter R (Morse Code)
International Morse Code sequence representing the letter R.
- Organisation RNLI
The volunteer crewed rescue service providing 24-hour rescue services around the UK and Irish coastline. They also provide seasonal lifeguards...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Weather (Meteorology) Rockall
Sea area of the Met Office Shipping Forecast. Spans the North Atlantic west of Ireland around Rockall islet.
Named for the remote granite islet...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Parts of a Boat Rode
The line, chain, or cable that connects an anchor to a vessel.
Rode refers to the length of chain, rope, or a combination of both that...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Roller Furling
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...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology, Parts of a Boat Roller Reef
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...
More Details - Phonetic Alphabet, Signals & Communication Romeo
Pronounced: ROW-me-oh
The term for the letter R in the NATO Phonetic Alphabet.
- General Nautical Terminology Round Up
Turning towards the wind, often quickly or unintentionally.
This may happen when a sailing vessel is overpowered, badly balanced, hit by a...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Roving Fender
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...
More Details - Organisation Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI)
The volunteer crewed rescue service providing 24-hour rescue services around the UK and Irish coastline. They also provide seasonal lifeguards...
More Details - Organisation Royal Yachting Association (RYA)
The national governing body for sailing, motorboating, and other recreational boating activities in the United Kingdom.
The Royal Yachting...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Rudder
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...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Rudder StockThe rudder stock houses the mechanism that transfers the movement of the wheel or tiller to the rudder, thereby steering the yacht
- General Nautical Terminology Run
To allow a line, rope, or cable to move freely through a block, fairlead, or other fitting.
The direction a vessel is moving, particularly...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Running
The act of sailing a boat downwind, with the wind coming from astern.
Running is one of the main points of sail, where a vessel moves with...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Running Backstay
A rigging component on a sailboat that helps support the mast. It runs from each lateral corner of the stern to the mast at the level where the...
More Details - General Nautical Terminology Running FixA navigational fix when only a single landmark is available. Two bearings are taken and plotted at different times, making allowance for distance... More Details

