good reads

Greets: Coming home a friend of a friend as a joke gave me a copy of "Time on Ice" by Shapiro and Bjelke. Its actually a very good read. An interesting section is a chapter on all the stuff that broke while undertaking sea trials. I can relate to that one. The part I find most intriguing is the section on rigging. Apparently the new rigging failed while crossing the Atlantic from Sweden to Newfoundland. Seldon the supplier (not the manufacturer) explained it as follows; "Seldon believes that there must have been a production error in the stainless wire.........When the individual strands of wire are manufactured, they must be heated red hot at fixed intervals, otherwise, the wire becomes brittle." gees...this is interesting. Did not know that as it sounds rather complicated and prone to error. Was wondering if this is still the case. The book is dated circa 70's so was wondering if those close to rigging manufacturing have a perspective on that statement. best and thanks. -- /ch