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Nautical Terms and Phrases
The letters of the alphabet are listed with their corresponding phonetic alphabet term. The phonetic alphabet is used when spelling terms over a radio so that the listener does not confuse one letter for another. The terms will show up below the list of letters when you click a letter.
A - Alpha	N - November
B - Bravo	O - Oscar
C - Charlie	P - Papa
D - Delta	Q - Quebec
E - Echo	R - Romeo
F - Foxtrot	S - Sierra
G - Golf	T - Tango
H - Hotel	U - Uniform
I - India	V - Victor
J - Juliet	W - Whiskey
K - Kilo	X - X-Ray
L - Lima	Y - Yankee
M - Mike	Z - Zulu

Rabbet	A joint formed by fitting one member into a groove in the face or edge of a second member.
Radar	An acronym standing for "radio detecting and ranging."
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.
Rail	The edge of a boat's deck.
Rake	The angle of the mast with the deck.
Ramline	A line used in mast-making to get a straight middle line on a spar.
Range	Sighting two objects in a line to indicate a course to be steered. Second meaning, the distance a boat can travel using the fuel stored aboard.
Rap Full	A little off the wind, with all sails filled.
Ratlines	Part of the standing rigging. The lightweight lines, running horizontally across and secured to the shrouds, that seamen stand on to climb aloft.
Rattle Down Rigging	To put ratlines upon rigging. It is still called rattling down, though they are now rattled up; beginning at the lowest.
Reef	To reduce the sail area.
Reef Points	Short pieces of line set in a sail for reefing.
Reef Points-short Line	The reef band to secure the foot of the sail.
Reef-bands	Pieces of canvass, about six inches wide, sewed on the fore part of sails, where the points are fixed for reefing the sail.
Reeve	To pass a line through a block.
Refasten	The periodic replacement and repair of bolts, spikes and other fastenings that hold together the hull of a wooden vessel.
Relieving Tackle	A tackle hooked to the tiller in a gale of wind, to steer by in case anything should happen to the wheel or tiller-ropes.
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	The method by which spars and sails are designed and fitted.
Rigging	Collectively, all the ropes and chains used to support and work the masts, yards, booms and sails of a vessel.
Right Of Way	The right to maintain a course according to the Rules of Navigation.
Rigid Inflatable	A small inflatable boat that has a solid hull but has buoyancy tubes that are inflated to keep it afloat.
Roach	The curve of the trailing edge of the sail.
Roaring Forties	A region between 40° South and 50° South where westerly winds circle the earth unobstructed by land.
Rode	The anchor line and/or chain.
Roll	The sideways motion of a boat.
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.
Rolling And Truss Tackle	Lines which secure a yard from undue movement when not being used for sailing. Rolling tackle inhibits movement of the yard from side to side (as the ship rolls); truss tackle prevents movement forward and back, or toward and away from the mast (as the ship pitches). These lines are cast off for sailing.
Room And Space	"Room" refers to the width of a ship's frames, and "space" refers to the distance between frames. Often used by archaeologists to describe and identify wrecks.
Rope	In general, cordage as it is purchased at the store. When it comes aboard a vessel and is put to use it becomes line.
Round In	To haul in on a rope, especially a weather-brace.
Round Turn	One complete turn of the line around a cleat, spar or another line.
Round Up	To haul up on a tackle.
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.
Row Boat	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.
Rubber	A small instrument used to rub or flatten down the seams of a sail in sail making.
Rudder	A vertical plate or board for steering a boat.
Rudder Post	The post that the rudder is attached to. The wheel or tiller is connected to the rudder post.
Rules Of The Road	Rules of Navigation - The laws of navigation written to prevent accidents and collisions, including right of way, lights, pennants, and whistle signals.
Run	To allow a line to feed freely.
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.
Runners	Detachable backstays set for the tack.
Running	Sailing with the wind coming from the stern.
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	Lights required to be shown on boats underway between sundown and sunup.
Running Rigging	All control lines used to adjust the sails.