Ratlines

For the system of escape routes used by Nazis and other fascists after World War II, see Ratlines (World War II aftermath).

Climbing the ratlines of STS Mir

Rat-boards and rigging of Christian Radich

Ratlines, pronounced "rattlin's", are lengths of thin line tied between the shrouds of a sailing ship to form a ladder.^[1] Found on all square rigged ships, whose crews must go aloft to stow the square sails, they also appear on larger fore-and-aft rigged vessels to aid in repairs aloft or conduct a lookout from above.

Lower courses in a ratline are often made of slats of wood for support where the distance between shrouds is greatest. These wooden boards are called rat-boards. In some instances holes in these slats guide and organise low-tension lines between the deck and the rig.

References

↑ "The Free Dictionary: Ratlines". Retrieved 2013-08-29.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ratlines.

Sails, spars and rigging

Rigs	Bermuda rig Cat rig Full rig Gaff rig Junk rig Ljungström rig Mast aft rig

Sail types	Asymmetrical spinnaker Junk sail Lug sail Parafoil Ringtail Spinnaker Turbosail Rotorsail Wingsail

Sails (sail plan)	Blooper Course Crab claw Driver Extra Fisherman Foresail Genoa Gennaker Jib Lateen Mainsail Moonraker Royal Skysail Screecher Spanker Spinnaker Spritsail Staysail Studding Topgallant Topsail Trysail Watersail

Sail anatomy and materials	Bolt rope Clew Foot Head Leech Luff Roach Tack Throat Peak Dacron Technora Kevlar Twaron

Spars	Boom Bowsprit Boomkin Dolphin striker a/k/a Martingale Pelican striker Fore-mast Gaff Jackstaff Jibboom Jigger-mast Jury rigging Main-mast Mast Mizzen-mast Truck Spinnaker pole Spreader Sprit Topmast Yard

Rigging components	Backstay Block Bobstay Boomkicker Braces Buntlines Chainplates Cleat Clevis pin Clewlines Cunningham Deadeye Downhaul Earing Fairlead Forestay Gasket Gooseneck Gunter Guy Halyard Kicker Lazy jack Outhaul Parrel beads Peak Preventer Ratlines Running rigging Shackle Spinnaker chute Standing rigging Sheet Shroud Stay mouse Stays Throat Topping lift Trapeze Traveller Turnbuckle Vang Windex

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