Which operational risk increased during longship voyages when repeated water saturation weakened hemp rope?

💡 Explanation

Sail luffing or tearing increases because cyclical wetting and drying degrades load-bearing capacity through cellulose breakdown; this is a form of material fatigue. Therefore, sails risk failure under wind load; rather than over-drafting (hull geometry) or crew fatigue (physiological effects).

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• Which limitation manifested structurally when medieval rope bridges experienced increased use?
• Which outcome resulted from the construction of the Suez Canal across the Isthmus of Suez?
• Which risk increased when 18th-century navigators relied solely on celestial navigation near magnetic poles?
• Which mechanism causes increased road surface rutting when Roman roads experienced repeated heavy wagon traffic?