wire vs. rope

[Bob Pingel]

To quote the master, "constructional stretch is a permanent elongation that results from the strands in a new piece of wire settling into place when the wire is first put into use". Of course, this quote refers to wire, but the same behavior applies to cordage.

I think there may be a typo in that 20%, maybe 2%?

I also have seen constructional stretch somewhat recover in cordage, I'd think wire would do the same thing but to a lesser degree. I have customers that will pretension halyards before each race to take up any elasticity.

Bob