English Channel and Catenary

We are close to the Channel Islands right now and thus in the Western Approaches getting closer to the English Channel. The waterdepht is less than 100 meters now and it will finally reach a minimum of 20 meters in Strait Dover and Rotterdam approaches. On the ocean we normally have 1200 meters tow wire out. It forms a large catenary (shape of a flexible hanging chain or cable), and acts like a giant spring, protecting us against shockloads due to our dynamical behaviour. This catenary can easily reach 100 meter depht. Waters here however are shallow. Therefore we have shortened our wire last night, preventing it to touch bottom, but making ourselve more vulnerable to shockloads. On the picture you can see the wire is not resting on the sternroller anymore. It has some catenary but you can see that this is not much. I guess around 15 meter. Tonight we will shorten up some more wire to approximate 475 meter wire out. The catenary will be less than 10 meters then, enough to pass the shallow Straits of Dover safely, but not enough for a good nightrest when a lot of power is needed during stormy weather. But this time Neptune has mercy and blessed us with a good outlook up to Rotterdam. Almost there!