Should a connection slip under load, it is likely that
initially the rate of slip will be accelerated. The rate
may then decrease, but until the load is removed the
slip will not be completely arrested.
● As mentioned earlier, if three grips are applied in the
correct manner and with an eye formed around a
thimble (a hard eye) the eye will not fail or slip at
loads of less than 80-90% of the NBL. Without a
thimble the eye (a soft eye) made-up correctly can
be expected to slip at loads in excess of about 70%
of the NBL. See Fig 6a. This is referred to below as
the ‘slip-load’ or ‘holding power’ of the eye.