Posted by Kathryn Lawrence on November 14, 1998 at 22:14:43:
In Reply to: Ropes, Lines and Nautical Terminology posted by The Murrelets on November 10, 1998 at 20:47:22:
My captain is very picky about calling a line a line, and agrees with
the position that there are only two ropes on a ship, a boltrope on the
edge of a sail, and a bell rope. We checked with our son who has borrowed
all of our good reference books, and he supplied the following:
Beard, Henry & McKie, Roy
1981 Sailing: A Dictionary for Landlubbers, Old Salts,
& Armchair Drifters, Workman Publishing: New York.
Ropes: The various kinds of rigging on a boat are extremely sensitive to abuse. Never call them "ropes." There is no
aspect of sailing in which a novice can more quickly display his ignorance and lack of respect for nautical usage than this, and
unless you want a nasty burn the next time you handle "that rope there" or a sharp slap in the face from the end of a miffed
hawser, you should learn the proper terms. Generally, "your coilage," "your cordship," or "your lineage" are acceptable when
making reference to anchor lines, mooring lines, and the like, but if you wich to aviod unnecessarily chafing your gear, it is
advisable to address the more essential forms of rigging by their proper names: "Mr. Rutherford, this is the Main Halyard,
Holder and Raiser of the Mainsail" or "Mrs. Millicent, may I present the Port and Starboard Jib Sheets."
I decided to take a closer look at We Didn't Mean to Go to Sea. I chose
it because it is a situation where the Walkers are learning how to sail
a boat that is bigger than any they have sailed before. In the first few
chapters I find more references using rope than those using specific names
for lines, however nearly all of the rope quotes are general in nature
and actual commands use correct terminology. I think it enhances readability.
Examples of specifics:
. . .and John, hauling in the slack of the mainsheet, made it fast as
the skipper came aft.
. . .when he reminded John to slacken away the topping lift so the sail
would take the weight of the boom.
. . .the warm august sun had taken the damp out of the flag halyards so
they had gone slack. . .
Let's have that painter, Roger. . .
Roger dropped the coiled painter into the bows. . .
. . .Haul in the port jib sheet, Susan.
. . .Cast off the staysail sheet. . .
Cast off the jib sheet.
They'll want the headsail sheets cast off at the last minute.
Examples of Ropes:
"Hi! You!" he shouted. "Can you catch a rope and make it fast. . .
A coiled rope was flying through the air. . .
He pushed the end of the rope through the becket and passed it back to
John. . .
"Look here," said Susan. "Hadn't we better get on with those ropes?"
One by one they disentangeld the ropes from the cockpit floor. . .
"Better learn the ropes." Jim had said.
. . .reminding himself what each block was for and where its rope went. . .
There were more ropes on the Goblin than in any little boat he had ever
sailed. . .