QUARTER, that part of a ship’s side which lies towards the stern.

QUARTER-CLOTHS, long pieces of painted canvas, extended on the outside of the quarter-neting from the upper-part of the gallery to the gangway.

R.

RANGE, a sufficient length of the cable, drawn up on the deck, before the anchor is cast loose from the bow, to let it sink to the bottom, without being interrupted, that the flukes may be forced the deeper into the ground, by the additional weight which the anchor acquires in sinking.

REEF, a certain portion of a sail, comprehended between the top or bottom, and a row of eyelet-holes parallel thereto.

To REEF, is to reduce the surface of the sail in proportion to the increase of the wind.

REEF also implies a chain of rocks, lying near the surface of the water.

RIGING, a general name given to all the ropes employed to support the masts; and to extend or reduce the sails, or arange them to the disposition of the wind.

RIGHTING, the act of restoring a ship to her upright position, after she has been laid on a careen. A ship is also said to right at sea when she rises, with her masts erected, after having been prest down on one side by the effort of her sails, or a heavy squall of wind.

S.

SCARFING, when two pieces of timber are to be joined together by the ends, if the ends are cut square, another piece is laid upon, and fastened to both, and this is called scarfing.

SETING, the act of observing the situation of any distant object by the compass, in order to discover the angle which it makes with the nearest meridian.

SHEET, a rope fastened to one or both the lower corners of a sail to extend and retain it in a particular station.

SHROUDS, a range of large ropes extended from the mast-heads to the right and left side of the ship, to support the masts, and enable them to carry sail.

Voyaging Accounts