Posted by Ross Cossar on August 04, 2004 at 23:31:49 from 204.92.62.134 user rlcossar.
I've just reread my favorite book in which the Swallows sail to Holland. Do you know of which I write? It seems to me that there were alot of "ropes" on board that John was dealing with. The story does mention the Halyards when John reefed the sail and it also mentions a sheet which they used to trim the sails. Still the word "ropes" seemed too common.
In my sailing world, a rope is a rope until it has a function. Therefore you may have a coil of rope on board. Once it has a function it becomes a line, sheet etc.
Every rule has its limitations though. My sailing world has 5 ropes.
1) The Bell Rope with which I ring the bell.
2) The Bucket Rope with which I tie my bucket to my boat before sending the bucket overboard for water.
3) The Bolt Rope which the sail maker sews into the hemmed foot of the sail.
4) The Foot Rope may be found on a square rigger allowing for reasonable footing as the topmen go out on the yards to fly or furl the square sails.
5) The Head Rope with which the bow of the boat is made fast to a dock. This is different than the stern and spring "lines" that also hold the boat to the dock.
Are there different ropes on your boat?