The picture shows a 'baggywrinkle' in the rigging of "Sailors Run" a fellow cruiser from Washington. The baggy wrinkle is an ancient device used on tradional sailing craft to prevent chafe particularly on sails as they make contact with the stainless wire that makes up the standing rigging. In the past they have been made from cast off pieces of manila three strand line. This is simple repetitive work done by the off watch people on a traditional sailing boat and then hoisted into the rigging to prevent chafe on the expensive sails.
Well sails are still expensive and subject to chafe but no one has three strand manila line on board. In fact there is almost nothing but braided line on board. However we were treated to a demonstration aboard Sailors run.