What Are Ropes Called In Sailing?

Sailboats are equipped with an intricate network of ropes and lines, which contribute to safety, control, and an unforgettable experience. Sailing terms and phrases refer to language specific to the sport of sailing, including boat parts, sailing maneuvers, wind direction, and navigation.

There are two main types of ropes: twisted rope and braided rope. Twisted ropes are created by twisting individual fibers into strands and then twisting the strands together in the opposite direction. There are various types of ropes, such as halyard, sheets, brails, vangs, tricing lines, warps, whips, and jackstays. Within each type, there are many specific titles like jib topsail sheet, peak halyard, bunt lines, and so on.

Lines on a boat are called sheets, which have their own names depending on which sail they are. Standing rigging is the wires and ropes that hold up the mast, also known as shrouds or stays. Running rigging is the ropes (and wires) that control the sails on a sailing yacht.

Rope is the term used to describe the material used to make the lines. If a length of rope has a set purpose, it is called an anchor rode. Mooring ropes, or lines, are used to tie up a boat on the jetty or pontoon and are typically referred to as dock lines or warps. When learning to sail, you are literally shown the ropes and taught that they are called sheets, lines, warps, or painters.

In summary, sailing ropes are essential for safety, control, and an unforgettable experience on a sailboat. Understanding the types of ropes, mastering their handling, and considering factors like material and maintenance can elevate your sailing skills.

Why are ropes on a boat called lines?

Rope is unemployed cordage. In other words, when it is in a coil and has not been assigned a job, it is just a rope.

On the other hand, when you prepare a rope for a specific task, it becomes employed and is a line. The line is labeled by the job it performs; for example, anchor line, dock line, fender line, etc.

For more information on ropes and lines, see our “Making Ropes Into Lines” e-Lesson. Learn how ropes are made, the different types of rope, what size and length to use for which lines on your boat, how to care for them, when to replace, how to prepare lines with eye-splicing, whipping and backsplicing, and much more is covered in the e-Lesson.

Why are ropes called sheets?

The line controlling the orientation of a sail, it’s angle of attack in the wind, is called a sheet because the sail that it controls is a sheet of fabric. Maybe that line was originally called a sheet- line, & then the name was shortened to “sheet”.

What are the strings on a sail called?

Now you are on your way and it’s time to hoist (raise) the main sail (that’s the sail attached to that tall stick thing we call the mast). You may be asked to raise the main halyard (rope) that is attached to the top of the sail (head) and this will raise the main sail. Then when the sail is all the way to the top you will cleat (secure) the main halyard on the mast. You have some great wind out there, so let’s get the genoa out (small sail at the bow that overlaps the main sail). Finished… not so soon. The sails need to be trimmed. Not like the tinsel on a Christmas tree. You need to trim (adjust the sail) so that the wind fills the sail and it doesn’t look like a bedsheet! I hope you had your Wheaties. Time to grind. This is where you use the handle on the winch (a round spool) to adjust the tension of the of sheets (rope) that is wrapped around the winch and attached to the clew (the lower corner) of the sail to adjust the position of the sails. Well, you are in luck because this sailboat has electric winches and all you had to do was push a button. How nice! Let’s check those telltales, not the kids in school who tell tales. Telltales are strings or wool that are attached on the sail that flow straight across the sail in the wind when you have the sail trimmed just right.

Now you can relax. You can sit on the windward side (the side the wind is blowing from) or the opposite side called the leeward side. You’re now sailing along with the wind in your hair and the sun on your face. This is great, until the captain at the helm yells coming about. (This just means that you’ll be changing direction and going on a different tack or course.) If you are tacking, you are changing direction by going into the wind. However, if the boat jibes, then that means you are changing direction by turning the boat away from the wind so the stern passes through the wind and the sail(s) switches sides. When the boat comes about, either by tacking or doing a jibe, DUCK, because that long pole thing called the boom that the main sail is attached to at the foot of the sail (bottom) might just hit your head as it moves into its new position. And that’s no fun. Ducking is not necessarily a sailing term, but it is a maneuver that you really want to master!

If you are on a Beam Reach, this just means that you are sailing at approximately 90 degrees to the wind. Knowing your captain at the helm, she’ll head up (turn the bow more towards the wind).

Now you’ll be on a Close Reach (wind coming from forward of the beam which is just the widest point of the boat). She’s just looking for more speed. So now the captain will sail as close as possible to the wind, which is a Close Haul.

What rope is used on sailboats?

Sailing ropes are produced of many different materials: synthetic fibres. Don’t be afraid of all chemical terms. It is worthwile to have some knowledge of the most commonly used fibres and their characteristics. Dyneema®, polyester, aramid fibres, etc. are explained on this page and their typical applications on board of sailing boats.

Remark: Table is for comparison purpose, differences occur within each material (depending on grades/ treatments)

Aramid: Technora. Aramid fibres are often sold under the brand names Kevlar and Technora. Premiumropes sells ropes with Technora in the cover. Technora main advantage is its resistance to high temperatures. This makes covers with Technora excellent for situations where the friction on a winch can become so great that a polyester cover will melt.

What is nautical rope called?

The complexity is because there dozens or even hundreds of bits of string all over tall ships, but very few of them have “rope” in the name.There are halyards, sheets, brails, vangs, tricing lines, warps, whips and jackstays to mention but a few categories.Within each type there are lots of specific titles like jib topsail sheet, peak halyard, bunt lines and so on.

Once you know the job a rope does then the rest of the name describes where it acts. This sailing language helps define exactly what each rope does. So when someone says “the lazy staysail sheet has come off the clew” you would know where to look to find and re-attach it. (Clear as mud, but to help you can learn about ropes on a Sailing Boat in our FREE Tall Ship Guide Book.)

Don’t despair, there is no need to know them all, or any, before you go sailing. We delight in helping people learn the ropes, that’s what we do! Check out our article on ‘My First Voyage‘.

The easy bit is to list How Many Ropes on a Boat there are?. 1. The Bell Rope.

What is the name of sailing ropes?

The complexity is because there dozens or even hundreds of bits of string all over tall ships, but very few of them have “rope” in the name.There are halyards, sheets, brails, vangs, tricing lines, warps, whips and jackstays to mention but a few categories.Within each type there are lots of specific titles like jib topsail sheet, peak halyard, bunt lines and so on.

Once you know the job a rope does then the rest of the name describes where it acts. This sailing language helps define exactly what each rope does. So when someone says “the lazy staysail sheet has come off the clew” you would know where to look to find and re-attach it. (Clear as mud, but to help you can learn about ropes on a Sailing Boat in our FREE Tall Ship Guide Book.)

Don’t despair, there is no need to know them all, or any, before you go sailing. We delight in helping people learn the ropes, that’s what we do! Check out our article on ‘My First Voyage‘.

The easy bit is to list How Many Ropes on a Boat there are?. 1. The Bell Rope.

What is rope called on a boat?

The complexity is because there dozens or even hundreds of bits of string all over tall ships, but very few of them have “rope” in the name.There are halyards, sheets, brails, vangs, tricing lines, warps, whips and jackstays to mention but a few categories.Within each type there are lots of specific titles like jib topsail sheet, peak halyard, bunt lines and so on.

Once you know the job a rope does then the rest of the name describes where it acts. This sailing language helps define exactly what each rope does. So when someone says “the lazy staysail sheet has come off the clew” you would know where to look to find and re-attach it. (Clear as mud, but to help you can learn about ropes on a Sailing Boat in our FREE Tall Ship Guide Book.)

Don’t despair, there is no need to know them all, or any, before you go sailing. We delight in helping people learn the ropes, that’s what we do! Check out our article on ‘My First Voyage‘.

What is the main sail rope called?

The line that runs up the mast to pull up the mainsail is called the halyard. The line to bring the sail back down the mast is called the downhaul.

Ifyou are getting ready to head out on your first RYA course or sailing trip then it is handy to know some basic sailing terminology. One thing thatbeginners should learn is the names of the ropes/lines. Generallya rope is not called a rope!

Let us explain… on board a sailing yacht, rope is the term used to describe the material used to make the lines. If a length of rope has a set purpose, for example adjusting the sails, it is called a line.Each separate line will have its own special name to describe the job it does.

Learning the Ropes (or the lines!). Running Rig. The running rig is allthe moveable lines that are used to pull up and/or adjust the sails. The linethat runs up the mast to pull up the mainsail is called thehalyard.The line to bring the sail back down the mast is called thedownhaul. Easy, right?!

What is the sailor term for rope?

Sheet Sheet – the rope attached to the clew of a sail or to the boom, enabled it to be controlled or trimmed.

What is a sheet in sailing?

In sailing, a sheet is a line (rope, cable or chain) used to control the movable corner(s) (clews) of a sail. The mainsheet (large green line) on a US Yachts US 22 sailboat The jib sheet (large red line) on a US Yachts US 22 sailboat.

This article is about the sailing term. For other uses, see Sheet.

In sailing, a sheet is a line (rope, cable or chain) used to control the movable corner(s) (clews) of a sail.

In nautical usage the term “sheet” is applied to a line or chain attached to the lower corners of a sail for the purpose of extension or change of direction. The connection in derivation with the root “shoot” is more clearly seen in “sheet-anchor”, one that is kept in reserve, to be “shot” in case of emergency.

What is the name of the sail rope?

The ‘running rigging’ refers to all the moveable lines that are used to pull the sails up and adjust them. When the rope raises up the sails, it is then called the halyard, and if it pulls the sail down or out on a mast or boom, it is then called the downhaul. That same rope will also tie the sail up and around the boom, this then becomes called a reef point. If it holds the boom up off the deck, it’s now called a topping lift.

The ropes that are used when sailing are all called ‘sheets’ and each of these ‘sheets’ has their own name depending on which sail they are controlling, so when you trim the mainsail you use the ‘mainsheet’, when trimming the jib, you will adjust the ‘jibsheet’. Unless it pulls through a little hole near the forward corner of the sail, then it becomes known as the ‘cunningham’ or the ‘kicker’ which are both used for sail trimming.

A yacht can be tied up to a jetty or pontoon by using ‘docklines’ or ‘warps’ and even each of these docklines has it’s own name eg. sternline, bowline, springline or breastline, dependent on whereabouts on the yacht the line is attached to.

What do you call ropes on a yacht?

Running and Standing Rigging Lines. Running rigging is a term used to describe the system of ropes which control and adjust the sails of the yacht, including their position, shape, and orientation. The yacht rope or line that runs up the mast, thus pulling up the mainsail, is called the halyard; whereas the rope which brings the sail back down is called the downhaul. Once you have set sail across the sea, lines that are used to control the boat are called sheets and each sheet refers to the individual sail that it controls – for example, a mainsheet controls the mainsail, the jib sheet controls the triangular jib sail and so on.

Standing rigging refers to the second system of yacht ropes which support and stabilise the stationary objects of the boat, including the mast, and they are typically known as shrouds or stays. A rope which runs from the mast to the bow of the boat is called the forestay, whereas those which run from the mast to the stern of the boat are called backstays.

Here at RopesDirect, we currently offer an extensive range of yacht ropes that are suitable for use as both running and standing rigging lines. Take for example the Evolution Race 78 by Gottifredi Maffioli®. This is a high-performance yacht rope, with great strength, low stretch and the ability to successfully hold cleats. Currently available in 4mm thickness and cut to length by the metre, it is perfect for use as a halyard, downhaul, sheet, control line, kicker, backstay, ties, or lashings. We also stock 8-10mm Kingbraid, 7mm Evolution Sheet (in blue and red), 10mm Silvertech Dyneema Rope and Dyneema Compact Braid – all of which are suitable yacht ropes to create an effective rigging system.