[MHml] Synthetic Rigging

[Paul Nudd]

Bill Gibbs wrote:
  > On the other hand, what's the big deal with creep?  As the wind 
strength increases, I have to adjust halyard tension anyway.  How do
> I tell whether this is from elastic stretch in the sail and halyard, or from creep?  Why should I care?
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Back in 1988 I had a 2:1 spectra halyard and needed to adjust the 
halyard as the combination of stretch and creep (presumably) used up all 
the luff downhaul travel. Doesn't matter whether it is called stretch or 
creep, needs to be reduced. I changed to a vectran 1:1 halyard and the 
mainsail head came less distance down the mast under load (less stretch? 
less creep? who cares?) so I no longer ran out of luff downhaul travel - 
problem solved. 9 years later the vectran halyard broke (at the knot). I 
re-tied the knot but intend to return to a 2:1 spectra. I am 9 years 
older and want the easiier hoisting of the 2:1 and the cheaper price of 
the spectra and will go back to adjusting the halyard when needed (wind 
over 15 knots).
PN