If you have just had your first outing on a sailing yacht and are bemused by some of the names that all the different ropes are called? Well here is a quick explanation as to why rope is not just called rope!

1. Sailing Yacht
Terminology

2. If you have just had your first outing on a sailing yacht and are
bemused by some of the names that all the different ropes are
called? Well here is a quick explanation as to why rope is not just
called rope!
Rope is generally the term used for the raw material used to make
the ‘lines’ that we use on board a sailing yacht. Wherever a rope
has a purpose or use, it is called a ‘line’ and every single line that
has a job to do will have it’s own name!

3. Running Rigging
This refers to all the moveable lines that are used to pull up and adjust the
sails. The rope that runs up the mast to pull up the mainsail is called the
halyard and to bring the sail down the line is called the downhaul

4. This refers to all the moveable lines that are used to pull up and adjust the sails.
The rope that runs up the mast to pull up the mainsail is called the halyard and to
bring the sail down the line is called the downhaul
Standing Rigging

5. The lines that are used when you are tying up to a jetty or pontoon are often
called ‘docklines’ or ‘warps’
There only a couple of examples of lines that are actually called ropes on a
yacht; a ‘bolt rope’ a line which can be attached to the edge of a sail or even a
‘bell rope’ used to ring a ships bell!
Mooring up

6. The lines that are used when you are tying up to a jetty or pontoon are often
called ‘docklines’ or ‘warps’
There only a couple of examples of lines that are actually called ropes on a
yacht; a ‘bolt rope’ a line which can be attached to the edge of a sail or even a
‘bell rope’ used to ring a ships bell!
Mooring up