To REEVE, is to pass the end of a rope through any hole, as the channel of a block, the cavity of a thimble, cleat, ring-bolt, &c.
RECKONING. See Dead-Reckoning.
REFITTING, is generally understood to imply the repairing any damages, which a ship may have sustained in her sails or rigging, by battle or tempestuous weather; but more particularly by the former. See Engagement and Repair.
REIGNING-WINDS, a name given to the winds which usually prevail on any particular coast or region, the knowledge of which is essentially necessary to every pilot who is charged with the navigation in those seas.
RELIEVING-TACKLES, two strong tackles, used to prevent a ship from overturning on the careen, and to assist in bringing her upright after that operation is compleated.
The relieving-tackles are furnished with two strong guys, (attrapes) or pendants, by which their efforts are communicated, under the ship’s bottom, to the opposite side, where the ends of the guys are attached to the lower gun-ports. The other ends of the tackles are hooked to the wharf, or pontoon, by which the vessel is careened. Thus if the ship is first to be laid down on the larboard-side, which is nearest the wharf, the relieving-tackles are passed under her bottom from the said wharf, and attached to the starboard-side, by which they will restrain her from falling lower than is necessary. See Righting.
Relieving-Tackle, is also a name sometimes given to the train-tackles of a gun-carriage. See Cannon and Exercise.
RENDERING, as a sea-term, is generally understood to be the effect of yielding, or giving way, without resistance, to the efforts of some mechanical power. It is usually expressed of a complicated tackle, laniard, or lashing, when the effect of the power applied is communicated with facility to all the parts, without being interrupted in its passage. It is therefore used in contra-distinction to sticking or jamming.
RENDEVOUS, the port, or place of destination, where the several ships of a fleet or squadron are appointed to rejoin the whole, in case of a separation, occasioned by tempestuous weather, or other unforeseen accident.
REPAIR, radoub, the operation of amending any injuries, or supplying any deficiencies, which a ship may have received by age, battle, tempestuous weather, &c.