| RATLINE | A series of small ropes fastened across a sailing ship's shrouds like the rungs of a ladder, used fo |
| STAVE | Name another term for the rung of a ladder, chair, etc (5) |
| STEPS | Rungs of a ladder |
| EMPIRE | The British ...... Games was the name used fo the first Commonwealth Games in 1930 (6) |
| CAPO | Clamp fastened across all the strings of a guitar to raise the pitch (4) |
| CDS | "Rungs" of a financial "ladder," in brief |
| ABSEIL | What is to descend a vertical cliff or wall by using a rope fastened above? (6) |
| REEFLINE | Short rope fastened to sail and used to reduce sail area (4,4) |
| ETRIER | From French for "stirrup", a tape ladder used in aid climbing (6) |
| SURETHING | Mistaking the rung is a foregone conclusion (4,5) |
| PURSESTRING | It can tie up money if you persist in climbing the rung (5,6) |
| SPOKE | Any one of the rods radiating from a wheel's hub; a handle of a ship's wheel; one of the ribs of an umbrella; or. a rung of a ladder (5) |
| STEP | A stage up or down; a rung of a ladder; or, a foot movement, pace or stride in a dance, march or walk (4) |
| CASCADE | A series of small waterfalls over rocks; or, something reminiscent of this, such as abundant ruffles of lace or trailing pink bougainvillea (7) |
| SHROUD | One of the ropes of a sailing ship's rigging that support the mast (6) |
| TWIDDLE | A series of small (usually idle) twists or turns of the thumbs (7) |
| RIPPLE | One of a series of little purls or waves on the water's surface caused by a light breeze or "cat's-paw" (6) |
| PICOT | Any of a series of small ornamental loops forming an edging on ribbon or lace (5) |
| RUNDLE | A rung of a ladder. |
| KRAKENS | Legendary sea monsters resembling giant squids, said to be big enough to reach the top of a sailing ship's main mast and to dwell off the coast of Norway (7) |
