The Half Moon is a sailing vessel rigged with nearly three miles of line, and each line has a specific purpose. (All ropes on board sailing vessels are called "lines" once assigned a specific function.) Thus, line handling is one of the most basic, and most crucial, skills any sailor can learn (thus the saying, "learning the ropes").
Operating the ship's lines can be extremely complex, but it begins with a simple step: Students first learn how to belay (secure) lines on the pin rail.