THE READERS’ DICTIONARY OF SAILING SHIP TERMINOLOGY ___________________________________________________________________________ THE READERS’ DICTIONARY OF SAILING SHIP TERMINOLOGY ___________________________________________________________________________ 146 147 THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF PETER TURNER THIS DOCUMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF PETER TURNER ©2024 If any reader can provide information, please send to galf@abandos.com If any reader can provide information, please send to galf@abandos.com Rudder breeching - Short heavy ropes fastened inboard and on the rudder to take some of its weight and so relieve the gudgeons. Rudder chains - Light chains that hold the rudder if it becomes unshipped. Rudder coat - The canvas housing fitted over the rudder stock where it emerges from the rudder trunk to prevent the sea entering. Rudder head - The top part of the rudder stock. Rudder hole - The stern housing of the rudder head. Rudder iron - See rudder brace. Rudder pendants - Lengths of rope or steel wire joining the rudder chains and the rudder tackles when needed. Rudder port - The housing above the helm port, through which the rudder stock passes into the ship. Rudder post - A vessel’s stern-post, when the rudder is hung on it. Rudder stock - The heavy vertical timber onto which the rudder blade is fastened. Rudder stops - Projections on the rudder or the stern post that prevent the rudder from turning too much either side of amidships. Rudder tackles - Tackles used to Rudder tackle – A tackle comprising long-tackle blocks and single blocks strapped with hooks and thimbles, used steer the ship when the helm is damaged beyond use, by connecting them to the rudder chains. Rudder trunk - The housing for the rudder stock, that runs from the deck to the helm port, where the quadrant is mounted. Rumb – One of the non-cardinal points of the compass. More usually rhumb, or romb, or wind. Rum baron - Someone who has been illegally storing rum, to be used as currency or bribes. Rum bosun - The mess member whose duty it was to draw the rum ration for the mess, in the rum fanny. Rumbo, or rumboline – Line made up from old yarns taken from the outside of worn ropes and re-laid, used for lashings and similar light work. Rumboline - See Rumbo. Rum, bum and baccy – The three most popular social activities. Rumfustian - Beer, gin & sherry with a pinch of gunpowder, drunk by pirates. Also Rumbo. Rummage sale – The French term for cargo is arrumage. Damaged cargo was sold off at reduced prices at a rummage sale. Run – 1. Deserted. 2 Run in is to arrest and charge. 3 Run this up, means try out something, from running a signal flag up the flagpole. 4. The distance a ship has sailed over the ground. 5. A regular voyage, particularly on a trade route. Run-ashore - A social visit with a group of shipmates, usually to pubs or clubs. Rundle – The capstan drum. Run down – To collide with a smaller vessel, or one that had the right of way. Rung - The lowest timber in a frame. Rung head - The floor head. Runner, do a - Desert Runner – The rope used in a tackle, with one end fixed and the other attached to the object of attention. Runners - Lads from dockside boarding houses who would grab an off-loaded seaman's chest and run off to same boarding house, thus obliging the seaman to follow. Runner tackle – A tackle comprising double and single blocks and a pendant, used to set up the shrouds or staying a mast. Running – Sailing before the wind. Sometimes called ‘running free’. Running block – The block that moves in a tackle. Running bowline – A bowline knot made in the end of a rope around its own standing part, along which the bowline can slide. Running by the lee – A fore-and-aft vessel sailing free but with the mainsail on the weather side. Running fix – The practice of establishing a vessel’s position when it is not possible to make two or more simultaneous position lines, thus needing to make allowances for the distances travelled between observations. A line drawn between time-spaced position lines is called a transferred position line. Running free – Sailing before the wind. Sometimes ‘sailing free’ or simply called ‘running’. Running gear – Any tackles, ropes or rigging that can move. Running hook – A hook located off-centre in the bow of a boat, to take the fore sheet when running before the wind. Running moor – The action of dropping one anchor while the ship is still under way, followed by another anchor soon after, to separate them and spread the load on each. Running part – That part of a tackle that is hauled. Running rigging - The moving parts of the rigging, used for raising and lowering sails and for adjusting yards. Running the easting down – Said of a ship sailing to the east before westerly winds. Run out – To lead the end of a chain, rope or line out of a vessel and onto a mooring point. Rupertinoe – A ships’ gun invented by Prince Rupert in the late 17c, of very high quality cast, then annealed and machined; they cost twice similar normal cannon, so were not universally adopted. Only three ships were equipped with them: Royal Charles, Royal James and Royal Oak, 1671-4. Russian sennit – A loose mat formed from interwoven small rope or yarn. Rutter - Early NW European sailing directions. The name evolved from the French routier, route book. Sabretache Saccharum - Rum, alternative name. Sack - White wine from Spain or Canary Islands. Sackcloth and Ashes - Ancient sign of mourning, leading to Cockbilled rig as a similar mark of respect. Sack rat - A sleepy individual. Sacoleva - ERR Saddle – 1. A notched piece of wood fastened onto one spar and forming a chock, or rest, for another. 2. A section of a monkey block hollowed out to fit against the convexity of the yard to which it is attached. Safety hook – A cargo hook with a hinged lock over the point, to stop the load slipping off. Sagging - The opposite of Hogging, in which the hull droops amidships. Sag – To make excessive leeway, or drift to leeward. Saik - ERR Sail - A shaped expanse of fabric, usually canvas, used to harness the power of the wind and drive the vessel. Square sails are suspended from spars set across the vessel and fore-and-aft sails are set on stays or gaffs along the line of the vessel. Sail - Ship, used "Number of sail" meaning number of ships, eg "200 sail", being a largish convoy. Sail burton – A tackle rigged at the topmast heads, used to hoist the sails. Sail close to the wind - Seamen’s slang for take a chance, especially with authority. Sailcloth – Flax or cotton canvas of sail-making quality. Sail clutch – An iron band used to attach a sail to a mast. Sail cover – A protective cover over a furled sail, usually made of canvas. Sail ho - Lookout’s cry on seeing another sailing vessel. Sail hook – A metal hook used to hold pieces of canvas together whilst being sewn. Sail hoop – An iron band used to attach a sail to a mast and allow it to raise and lower. Sailing - 1. Using sails as the means of propulsion of a vessel. 2. Leaving the point of departure Sailing barge - SMS Sailing Boat - Generic term for waterborne vessels propelled by wind against sails, usually up to about 40ft(12m) long. Sailing directions - See Pilot. Sailing free – Running free. Sailing instructions – 1. The orders issued to a ship for a particular assignment. 2. The orders issued by the commander of a convoy to the ships of that convoy, detailing signals, rendezvous, etc. Sailing orders – The orders issued to a warship, detailing departure and arrival times, speed and various duties. A ship under sailing orders is ready to go to sea, with shore leave restricted. Sailing Ship - Generic term for waterborne vessels propelled by wind against sails which, because of their size and design, were not called sailing boats. Sailing Speed - Theoretically the maximum speed of a sailing ship is between 1.25 and 1.5 times the square root of the waterline length. Sailings, The - Representations on paper of the routes a vessel has taken. Sailing ship routes - Those routes known by experienced sailors to have regular reliable winds, thus becoming those most often used. Sailing thwart – The fore-and-aft thwart running along the centreline of a boat and holding the mast. In small boats it was sometimes athwartships. Sailing trim – The proper trim for a ship for sailing. Sailings – The representation on paper of a vessel’s path. Sailmaker – The crew member who is responsible for assembling and repairing sails and all other canvas items on board. Nicknamed Sails Sailmaker's eye splice - A method of splicing an eye into the bolt-rope of a sail. Sailmakers Mate - Sailmaker's tools - Shook, Marlin spike, Fid, Pinker (a straight marlin spike), Heaving mallet, Serving mallet Sailmaker's whipping - An alternative name for Palm and Needle whipping. Whipping being done with a sailmaker’s needle. Sail needle – A heavy duty needle with a triangular cross section at the tip. Sailor – Anyone who goes to sea to earn a living. In the Royal Navy, a rating below the rank of Able Seaman who works on deck. Sailor King - Nickname of William IV of England, due to his naval service. Sailor's Baptism - A classic rite of passage by novices first crossing the line BDD Sailors' Disgrace - Foul anchor flag. Red flag with gold(foul) anchor and cable. Standard of the Lord High Admiral. Also used as a mark on ships or goods arrested by Admiralty and on naval ordnance. Sailor's Knife - Sailor's whipping - See American whipping. Sail Plan - Sail room - The storeroom for a ship's sails. Sails - Usually Flax Canvas. US white cotton- distinctive. Sails – The nickname for the sailmaker. Sails, to take the wind out of (someone’s) – To sail too close to another vessel to let their sails properly draw the wind. This phrase came ashore to refer to the practice of spoiling someone’s efforts. Sail twine – Fine line used by sailmakers, comprising the best long hemp, beaten, spun, well dressed and laid into two or three strands. Also seaming twine. Saint Elmo's Fire - A luminous discharge of electricity into atmosphere. Also Corposants. Saint Helena - Stop off on the way home from East Indies, much loved by seamen as it was considered to be healthy. BDD Saint Nick’s Clerks – French privateers. S Sawbones and Suttlers
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTYyMzU=