Nautical Term: Heart

Definition of Heart

The ‘Heart’ of a rope refers to its inner, central strand. This strand is crucial for the overall strength and durability of the rope.

For instance, in a sailing competition, the crew relies on the robustness of their sails’ halyards (ropes used to hoist sails). If the ‘Heart’ or central strand of the halyard were to weaken or break, the crew’s ability to effectively maneuver their sail could be significantly compromised.

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