I know exactly what catenary means, you semi-illiterate dumb-ass.

obviously not. see below.


Catenary forces are a classic problem in physics, where you have linear
forces in parallel with supporting cables. High tension wires are the
typical example.

When the wires are pulled to the point where they are nearly straight-- like
a forstay and backsay for instance-- the tangent of the incident angle
starts to approach infinity. That's why high tension lines and windward
shrouds are designed to sag, so that the catenary forces are kept within
reason.

Look that up in a college physics text, you high-school educated dip****.

"JAXAshby" wrote in message
...
It's fairly easy to prove that
tripod rigs are *stronger* than conventional rigs because of reduced
catenary forces

nope. and you don't know the meaning of the word "catenary".

a backstayless rig can indeed do the job under conditions for which the
boat is
designed but it NOT stronger than convential rigs (of the same size and
weigh)
and "catenary forces" have nothing to do with it.