🔍 Key Concepts

• Towing catenary – the natural sag in a towing line and what affects it • Relationship between speed, tension, and weight in a towline • How a towline and vessels behave when the tow is over‑strained

💭 Think About

• Think about what happens to a heavy line in the water as speed increases and the pull on the line becomes greater. How does its shape change? • Which option specifically suggests that the towline is under very high tension rather than just poor coordination between the two vessels? • Which choice describes a condition that could lead to parting (breaking) of the tow because the line is being pulled too tight and lifted?

✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which choice is directly about the shape and behavior of the towline itself, not the vessel motions or sail behavior • Ask: which condition shows that the weight of the line is no longer providing a low, safe sag (catenary) to absorb shock loads? • Verify which option would be a clear visual sign from the towing vessel that the line is being stretched nearly straight by excessive speed.