Which risk increased for 18th-century wooden ships continually sailing tropical waters?

💡 Explanation

When wooden ships continually sailed tropical waters, teredo worm infestation becomes a significant threat because the warm waters allow enhanced metabolic activity causing rapid wood consumption, leading to compromised hull integrity. Therefore, teredo worm infestation is the increased risk, rather than knot slippage or rudder jamming unrelated to that process, or improved flow as only damage would impact flow.

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