From: fairwater@gmail.com   
      
   henry@spsystems.net (Henry Spencer) wrote:   
      
   >>Plus I think they actually try really hard   
   >>to keep them from getting taut, a taut line can snap.   
   >   
   >There's taut and then there's taut.  Those lines *are* continuously under   
   >tension from gravity; they need to hold their shape fairly well to make   
   >the operation practical.   
      
   They are also under constant tension from the ship providing the line.   
   Active tensioning keeps the load from whipping about as the ships move   
   in the seaway.   
      
   D.   
   --   
   Touch-twice life. Eat. Drink. Laugh.   
      
   -Resolved: To be more temperate in my postings.   
   Oct 5th, 2004 JDL   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)