...forget about whether the rope is soft or stiff; it doesn't matter. What you need to do is to elevate the lines above the deck so you can get your fingers under them. Flush lines may look nice to some eyes, but they are essentially non-functional when you're trying to get a grip on them with cold, wet gloved hands. Get 'em 3/8" above the deck and you can snag them when you need them. When it comes to a safety item like deck lines, I say "fashion be damned!"

Another useful item is pull-tabs on bungees, so you can lift them off the deck. It takes all of 2" of webbing to make a good pull tab. Sew a snug fitting loop on one end and roll the other end over, then stitch it, to make a little nub you can get a grip on.