sailboat in a storm

A Complete Guide To Sailing In A Storm

Sailing in a storm can be a challenging experience but with the right preparation and techniques, it can be navigated safely in most instances.

While it's best to avoid storms when sailing, there are times when storms cannot be avoided.

To sail in a storm:

• Prepare the sailboat for a storm
• Monitor the weather conditions
• Adjust the sailboat to stabilize the vessel in the storm
• Maintain communication with the coast guard

The number one priority when sailing in a storm is safely navigating through the water during these bad weather conditions.

1. Prepare The Sailboat For A Storm

The first step of sailing in a storm is to prepare the sailboat for storm weather conditions.

To prepare a sailboat for a storm:

• Check the rigging & sails : Assess the rigging and sails overall condition. Ensure they are in full working order with no issues with maneuverability or rips in the sails. There should be a storm sail onboard too in preparation for sailing in the storm
• Ensure safety equipment is onboard : Ensure there are liferafts, life jackets for everyone onboard, life buoys, heaving lines, sailing jackets, flashlights, flares, VHF radios, chartplotter/GPS, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers
• Remove the boat canvas/bimini top : In preparation for sailing in a storm, remove the boat canvas/bimini top to prevent it from getting damaged or destroyed or causing injury to passengers onboard ‍
• Ensure loose items are tied down : Any loose items like lines on the deck should be tied down and secured before sailing in a storm. Loose items can become dislodged and damaged or cause injury to passengers onboard if they are not secured during a storm
• Ensure the sailboat's engine is in great condition : Ensure the sailboat's motor is in perfect condition with sufficient oil and fuel to operate during the storm

Preparing the sailboat for a storm will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. This timeframe will vary depending on the size of the vessel and the amount of equipment needed to be purchased and installed onboard.

In preparing for sailing in a storm, there is certain sailboat equipment needed. The equipment needed for sailing in a storm includes a storm sail, heaving lines, sailing jackets, life jackets, life buoys, liferafts, first aid kit, Chartplotter/GPS, fire extinguishers, VHF radio, and flares.

The benefits of preparing the sailboat for a storm are a sailor will be prepared for any issues caused by the storm and a sailor will have the necessary safety equipment to help keep everyone onboard safe during the storm.

One downside of preparing the sailboat for a storm is it can be costly (over $500) especially if the sailor does not have all the right equipment needed to withstand the stormy weather. However, this is a small downside.

2. Monitor The Weather Conditions

The second step of sailing in a storm is to monitor the weather conditions regularly.

To monitor the weather conditions:

• Connect to the VHF radio weather channel : Connect to channel 16 on the VHF radio as this channel provides storm warnings and urgent marine information for boaters
• Use a chartplotter : Modern chartplotters will have marine weather data for boaters to monitor the weather conditions and check windspeeds, rainfall levels, wave height and other relevant marine weather data
• Check a marine weather forecast provider website : If you have internet access on the sailing trip, connect to a marine weather provider for marine weather forecast information in your area

In sailing, weather conditions are considered a storm when the wind speed is 28 knots or higher and the wave heights are 8ft or higher. Other characteristics of stormy weather when sailing is poor visibility with visibility ranges of under half a mile (0.8km or less) and heavy rain with a precipitation rate of at least 0.1 inches (2.5 millimeters) per hour.

It can take approximately 3 to 6 hours for a storm to fully develop when sailing. However, for larger storms, it can take over 2 days for the storm to fully develop.

Monitoring the weather should be done every 20 minutes when sailing in a storm to get up-to-date information on potential nearby locations with better weather to sail to.

The benefit of regularly monitoring the weather conditions is a sailor will be more prepared for the weather that lies ahead and the sailor will be able to make adjustments to their sailing route to help avoid the bad weather.

3. Adjust The Sailboat To Stabilize The Vessel

The third step of sailing in a storm is to adjust the sailboat to stabilize the vessel.

When sailing through the storm, reef the sails to reduce the stress and load on the mast and sails, attach the storm sails, turn the vessel until the wave and wind direction are blowing from the stern of the sailboat, i.e. the wind is blowing downwind. Carefully tack the sailboat slowly until the boat is in the downwind position. Pointing the sailboat downwind is not recommended if the sailboat is near land as it could cause the boat to run into the land.

Alternatively, if the storm is very bad, sailors can perform a "heaving to" storm sailing maneuver.

To perform the heave-to storm sailing maneuver:

• Turn the bow of the boat into the wind : This involves turning the sailboat so that the bow faces into the wind. This will cause the boat to lose forward momentum and begin to drift backward
• Adjust the sails : Depending on the size and configuration of your boat, you may need to adjust the sails in different ways. In general, you will want to position the sails so that they are catching less wind and are working against each other. This will help to slow the boat's drift and keep it from moving too quickly
• Adjust the rudder : You may need to adjust the rudder to keep the boat from turning too far or too fast. In general, you will want to angle the rudder slightly to one side to counteract the wind and keep the boat on a stable course
• Monitor the boat's drift : Once you have heaved-to, you will need to monitor the boat's drift and make small adjustments as needed to maintain your position. This may involve adjusting the sails, rudder, or other factors as conditions change

The heaving to maneuver is used to reduce a sailboat's speed and maintain a stationary position. This is often done in rough weather to provide the crew with a stable platform to work from or to wait out a storm.

This sailing maneuver will adjust the sailboat and should stabilize the vessel in the storm.

The benefits of adjusting the sailboat position in a storm are it will help to stabilize the boat, it will improve safety, it will reduce the crew's fatigue as the crew will not be operating with a boat at higher speeds, it will help maintain control of the sailboat, and it will reduce stress on the sailboat and the rigging system.

Depending on the size of the sailboat, how bad the weather conditions are, and a sailor's experience level, adjusting the sailboat to stabilize it in the storm should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

4. Maintain Communication With The Coast Guard

The fourth step of sailing in a storm is to maintain communication with the coast guard.

This is particularly important if the storm is over Beaufort Force 7 when sailing is much harder.

To maintain communication with the coast guard during a storm:

• Understand the important VHF channels : During sailing in a storm, be aware of VHF international channel 16 (156.800 MHz) which is for sending distress signals
• Ensure there are coast guard contact details on your phone : Put the local coast guard contact details into your phone. These contact details are not substitutes for using the VHF channel 16 distress signal or dialing 911. These contact details should only be contacted if all else fails

Contacting the coast guard takes less than 1 minute to complete and they are fast to respond in case of an emergency caused by the storm.

The benefits of maintaining communication with the coast guard during a storm are it will help improve safety, the coast guard will be able to provide real-time alerts, and it will provide navigation assistance as the coast guard has access to the latest navigation technology and can guide you through the storm's hazardous areas such as shallow waters or areas with a strong current.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sailing In A Storm

Below are the most commonly asked questions about sailing in a storm.

What Should You Do If You're Caught Sailing In A Storm With Your Boat?

if you're caught sailing in a storm with your boat, you should reef the sails, attach the storm sails and tack the vessel slowly until the wave and wind direction are blowing from the stern of the sailboat.

Should You Drop An Anchor When Sailing In A Storm?

Dropping an anchor can be a useful technique to help keep a boat steady during a storm. However, whether or not to drop an anchor depends on a variety of factors including the size and type of the boat, the severity of the storm, the water depth, and the type of bottom (i.e., mud, sand, or rock).

If you are in a smaller boat that is being pushed around by the waves, dropping an anchor can help keep the boat oriented in a particular direction, reducing the boat's drift. Additionally, it can help reduce the risk of capsizing or being thrown onto a rocky shore.

However, if the storm is very severe with high winds and waves, the anchor may not be enough to hold the boat in place, and it may put undue stress on the anchor and the boat's attachment points. In such a case, it is usually better to try to navigate to a sheltered area or to deploy sea anchors that can help reduce the boat's drift.

It is also essential to be careful when anchoring in a storm as it can be challenging to set the anchor correctly and the wind and waves can cause the anchor to drag.

Is It Safe To Sail In A Storm?

Sailing in a storm should be avoided due to the lack of safety. However, experienced sailors can sail in storms up to Beaufort Force 7 if required. Beaufort Force 8 and higher storms are extremely dangerous to sail in and should be avoided at all costs.

How Do You Improve Safety When Sailing In A Storm?

To improve safety when sailing in a storm, wear a life jacket, hook everyone onboard up to a safety line or harness so they don't fall overboard, reef the sail to improve the sailboat's stability, and understand where all the safety equipment is onboard and how to operate it in case of an emergency.

What Type Of Storm Should Not Be Sailed In?

A sailor should not sail in any storm but especially a storm from Beaufort Force 8 to Beaufort Force 12 as it is considered to be too dangerous.

Can You Sail Through A Hurricane?

While sailors have successfully sailed through hurricanes in the past, sailing through a hurricane should be avoided at all costs. Sailing in hurricane weather is too dangerous and could result in loss of life.

What Are The Benefits Of Sailing In A Storm?

The benefits of sailing in a storm are:

• Improves sailing skills : Sailing in a storm will force sailors to improve their sailing skills and increase their ability to handle rough seas
• Exciting experience : For some sailors, the thrill of navigating through a storm can be an exhilarating experience that they enjoy. The adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment of successfully sailing through a storm can be incredibly rewarding
• Greater appreciation for the power of nature : Sailing in a storm can provide a unique perspective on the power of nature. It can be humbling and awe-inspiring to witness the raw force of the wind and waves and this can lead to a greater appreciation for the natural world

It's important to note that these potential benefits should never come at the expense of safety. For the majority of sailors, it is smarter to avoid sailing in a storm and instead wait for the bad weather to pass.

What Are The Risks Of Sailing In A Storm?

The risks of sailing in a storm are:

• Boat sinking/capsizing : With high winds over 28 knots and waves and swells at heights over 8ft, there is a risk of the sailboat capsizing and sinking
• People drowning : High winds and high waves during a storm can cause people onboard to fall overboard and drown
• Loss of communication : Bad storm weather can cause the sailboat's communication system to stop working making it much harder to signal for help if needed
• Boat damage : Storm weather can damage the boat including the sails, mast, rigging system, lines, Bimini top, etc.
• Poor visibility : Sea spray, large waves over 8ft, and heavy winds over 28 knots can reduce the visibility to under 500 meters in some instances making it difficult for navigation
• People being injured : People onboard can get injured due to the increase and sharp movements caused by the storm

What Should Be Avoided When Sailing In A Storm?

When sailing in a storm, avoid:

• Getting caught sailing in the storm in the first place : Ideally, a sailor should avoid sailing in the storm in the first place by checking the weather radar and instead wait for the weather to clear before continuing their sailing trip
• Increasing the sail area : Increasing the sail area in a storm should be avoided as it can cause the sailboat to become more unstable and increase the risk of capsizing
• Not wearing a life jacket : Life jackets should be worn at all times when sailing but especially during a storm. Avoid not wearing a life jacket in a storm as there is no protection if someone falls overboard
• Not wearing the appropriate gear to stay dry : Sailors should avoid not wearing the appropriate foul weather gear to stay dry when sailing in a storm
• Not connecting the crew to safety lines/harness : When sailing in a storm, all crew on the boat deck should be
• Not understanding the safety equipment : Sailors should avoid not understanding the safety equipment onboard

How Do You Avoid Sailing In A Storm?

To avoid sailing in a storm, check the weather forecast regularly when going on a sailing trip to know when and where not to sail as the weather gets worse in these areas. If a sailing trip involves passing through a storm, wait in an area where there is no storm until the weather clears up in the storm area before continuing on the voyage.

What Are The Best Sailboats For Sailing In A Storm?

The best sailboats for sailing in a storm are the Nordic 40, Hallberg-Rassy 48, and the Outremer 55.

What Are The Worst Sailboats For Sailing In A Storm?

The worst sailboats for sailing in a storm are sailing dinghies as they offer little protection from the dangers of stormy weather.

What Is The Best Sized Sailboat For Sailing In A Storm?

The best-sized sailboats to sail in a storm are sailboats sized 30ft. and longer.

What Is The Worst Sized Sailboat For Sailing In A Storm?

The worst-sized sailboats to sail in a storm are sailboats sized under 30ft. as it is more difficult to handle rough weather and choppy waves in these boats.

Sailing Your Sailboat In A Storm: The Ultimate Guide

No one in their right mind chooses to direct their sailboat into a storm, and you shouldn’t either!

There’s a reason that so many songs about sailing and sailing quotes are based around storms at sea – they’re dramatic and terrifying and awe-inspiring. So inspiring that people feel the need to write about them.

In our 4 years of full-time sailing, we have only been caught out a few times. It’s never fun when you are but each time it happens you build trust in yourself and how your sailboat handles storm conditions.

The good news is that you can prepare yourself and your sailboat for storms without having to head out into one. There are several steps you can go through to ensure that if and when the time comes, you’re ready.

Sailing in stormy conditions can be a daunting experience for even the most experienced sailors. However, with the right knowledge, preparation, and mindset, you can navigate through the raging tempest and emerge safely on the other side.

In this ultimate guide, we will equip you with the essential skills and advice to sail your sailboat confidently in stormy weather.

Whether you’re an experienced sailor looking to refine your storm tactics or a beginner eager to explore the world of sailing, this guide will provide you with the tools to face the fury of nature head-on.

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Table of Contents

Pre-storm sailing checks, storm sails, your sailboat in big waves.

• Post Storm Assessment

Conclusion: Your Sailboat In A Storm

The key to sailing in a storm is being prepared. We knew this, and yet the first time we got caught in big weather we weren’t prepared at all, and we felt really stupid for it.

Don’t be us!

You should be prepared for bad weather every single time you leave the safety of the harbour. You never know when the weather will change on you and you should always know exactly what you’ll do when that happens.

Here are a few things you can do while the weather is calm to help you prepare for the worst case scenario.

The Science of Storms

Understanding the dynamics of storms, including their formation, movement, and intensification, will enable you to make informed decisions before you even leave the anchorage.

You don’t need to become a weather expert, but you should learn how to read the weather using various sailing forecasts, and be aware of all the different tools available to you.

Another key skill is knowing weather patterns in the specific area you’re sailing in. Ask local fishermen and sailors how to spot bad weather and ‘read the skies’ as well as the forecasts.

In Greece, for example, you can predict the onset of the Meltemi winds by watching for dew on the deck. You can also learn a lot from watching the fishing boats. If they suddenly flock to port it’s a sure sign there will be bad weather on the way!

Preparing Your Sailboat

Properly equipping your sailboat before setting sail is crucial for handling a storm.

We always do pre-sail checks before setting off on a passage, but after days of sailing in calm weather, it’s easy to get complacent. Especially when there’s a favourable forecast.

This was our biggest mistake in one of the big storms we got stuck in. We usually stow our paddleboards, but we were forecast great weather and decided to tie them down on deck instead. We lost one over the side after a huge wave ripped it out of the lines and washed it overboard. Luckily it wasn’t anything more important.

You need to check for things like working bilge pumps, check your marine batteries and that you have a healthy running engine, do regular rigging inspections, check your sailboat mast , and check the quality of your lines and sails. These sorts of things should all be part of your going-to-sea checklist and are easy to keep on top of because they’re so vital.

The things that are easier to forget, but just as important, are things like ensuring hatches and portholes are properly closed and fastened, cupboards are all latched, and everything is stowed away safely.

I read a really interesting account of a couple who got caught in a severe storm. When a wave hit their top-loading fridge flew open spilling the contents everywhere. Eggs all over the floor made it impossible to move around below deck safely, and serious injuries occurred.

Think of everything, every time! And make it part of your daily routine.

Safety Equipment

Alongside your regular boat checks should be regular safety equipment checks.

To begin with, you should make sure you have all the safety equipment onboard before heading out to sea. This includes things like lifejackets , tethers, jackstays, liferafts, EPIRBS, grab bags, flares, etc.

You should make sure you inspect safety equipment regularly. Keep on top of things like recharging lifejackets and getting liferafts inspected regularly. Make sure your life sling is free to run. Make sure you have a sailing knife somewhere handy.

You should also know how to use your safety equipment and regularly practice your man overboard drills.

S eamanship Techniques

Once you find yourself sailing through a storm, it’s vital to know how to handle your sailboat effectively. This requires knowing your boat and how it handles best and will take some practice.

You can practice in calm weather, you don’t need to be in the middle of a storm to figure out certain techniques (and you shouldn’t be!) Make storm tactic practice a regular part of your sailing routine, and make sure the crew is aware of what you’ll do if heavy weather creeps up on you.

We’ll take a more in-depth look at different storm tactics below!

Crew Safety and Communication

In a storm, the safety of you and your crew is paramount. Before you head out to sea you should always brief your crew so they know all the major systems onboard. Imagine you got knocked unconscious – what would they need to know to get you and the boat to safety?

They should all have appropriate safety equipment and know your rules on using it. It’s important they trust and respect you as the skipper, because if things get tough out there you’ll want them to follow your orders.

You need to make sure they are comfortable with the way you run your ship. It’s easy to bark orders that are difficult to understand when you’re under pressure, so it’s up to you as captain to practice good communication skills onboard.

Mental Preparedness

Sailing in stormy conditions can be mentally and physically demanding. Often the sailboat is fine in a storm, but the people onboard fall apart long before the boat will.

Storms bring rough seas, and rough seas bring seasickness, anxiety, fear, and panic. You need to know what you’ll do if one or more of your crew becomes able to play their role.

When we got caught in big seas on a passage from Croatia to Greece Adam was flat on his back with seasickness for most of the journey. Luckily I knew the boat well enough to single-hand for large chunks of time, and he knew how to handle his seasickness well enough that he could take short watches while I slept.

Being prepared for this mentally by knowing the boat and our own capabilities played a huge role in the fact we managed to get the boat to safety.

Storm Tactics

Make sure you carefully think through your storm tactics and share them with your crew before you head out to sea. Here are a few storm tactics that might be worth practicing on calmer sails, so you know exactly what to do when bad weather hits.

This seems like a daft one to put first, but hypothermia will kill you much quicker than a storm. Luckily when we got really caught out it was summer and the temperatures were high, but even so we very quickly realised how stupid we were for heading out without decent sailing foulies.

The night was a very cold, very wet one. We survived it, but we vowed we would have all the proper kit before ever heading out to sea again.

As a minimum, make sure you have easily accessible layers (you do not want to be rummaging around below in a bad sea state), a decent sailing jacket and waterproof trousers, non-skid shoes, or even better, sailing boots .

For colder climates, it’s wise to consider a sailing drysuit .

Before the storm picks up make sure you’re kitted out. One rogue wave that sneaks overboard before you have your waterproof layers on could be a real killer.

One of the first steps to take in any sailboat when the weather picks up is to reef the sails . It’s unlikely that a storm will go from 0 knots to 60 (though obviously this can happen!) so as the wind builds, so should the reefs in your sails.

Reefing is simply making the sail area smaller. Different boats will have different points at which they need to reef, and your sail set up will be different too. Offshore sailors often have three reefing points in their sails so they can make them as small as possible.

Reefing the mainsail is hardest. You might need to go up to the mast to drop the sail a portion of the way down before trimming the sail again.

Foresails like jibs are often on furlers, and can be furled away as small as you like. You’ll just want to be careful the sails are balanced so you don’t have to work too hard on the helm.

Once your sailboat is fully reefed and still struggling in the wind speeds you’re getting, it’s time to consider putting up your storm sail.

Your storm sail is a vital piece of safety gear on board.

Storm sails are specialized sails designed to be used in extreme weather conditions, particularly during storms or heavy winds. They are smaller, stronger, and more heavily reinforced than regular sails, allowing a sailboat to maintain control and reduce the risk of damage or capsize in challenging weather.

Here are the main types of storm sails commonly used:

• Storm Jib: The storm jib is a small headsail that is hanked or attached to the forestay closer to the deck. It is typically made of heavy-duty fabric and has a high-cut clew (lower corner) to prevent interference with the deck or waves. The storm jib is used when the wind becomes too strong for the regular headsail, providing better control and stability.
• Storm Trisail: A storm trisail is a triangular sail that is hoisted on a separate mast track, usually on the aft side of the mast. It is set independently from the mainsail and provides an alternative to using the main in extreme conditions. The storm trisail is typically made of heavy-duty fabric and has a shorter luff (leading edge) than the regular mainsail.
• Storm Staysail: A storm staysail is a small sail set between the mast and the forestay. It is usually hanked or attached to a removable stay or a dedicated inner forestay. The storm staysail provides additional stability and control when conditions are too severe for other sails. It is typically made of heavy-duty fabric and has a high-cut clew to avoid interference.

Storm sails are designed to handle high winds and heavy seas, allowing a sailboat to maintain some degree of maneuverability and control.

They are usually constructed from stronger and more durable materials, such as heavy Dacron or woven synthetic fibers, and often feature reinforced stitching and webbing to withstand the increased loads and forces experienced in stormy conditions.

It’s important to note that deploying storm sails should be done in advance of extreme weather and in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. P

roper training and experience are crucial for effectively using storm sails, as they require careful sail handling and adjustments to maintain the boat’s balance and stability.

Heaving to in a sailboat is a valuable technique used to effectively manage challenging weather conditions, especially in a storm. It allows you to temporarily pause your boat’s forward progress, stabilize it, and create a safe and controlled environment.

It’s basically putting the brakes on your sailboat.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to heave to in a sailboat, but bear in mind that every sailboat is slightly different so you will need to play around a bit with your individual boat in calm weather to work out what works best for your boat and crew.

• Assess the conditions: Determine if heaving to is the appropriate strategy for the current situation. Heaving to is most effective in moderate to heavy winds and moderate seas. If conditions are extreme or dangerous, it may be safer to consider alternative tactics or seek shelter.
• Prepare the boat: Before executing the maneuver, prepare your sailboat by reefing the sails. Reduce the sail area to a level that provides sufficient control while minimizing the boat’s forward motion. Typically, this involves reefing the mainsail by lowering it partially or completely and adjusting the headsail accordingly.
• Decide on the tack: Choose the tack to heave to based on factors such as wind direction, sea state, and the boat’s handling characteristics. The tack selection can vary depending on the boat’s design and personal preference. In general, choose the tack that allows the boat to face into the wind with the mainsail backed.
• Head up into the wind: Turn the boat into the wind by steering toward the chosen tack. This maneuver will cause the boat’s forward momentum to decrease as it approaches a position directly facing into the wind.
• Backwind the headsail: Once the boat is pointing into the wind, backwind the headsail to help balance the forces acting on the boat. To do this, ease the headsail sheet, allowing it to fill on the opposite side of the boat from its normal position. This action will counteract the forward drive and assist in keeping the boat stationary or with minimal drift.
• Adjust the rudder: Set the rudder position to maintain balance and control. Depending on the boat’s design and behavior, you may need to experiment with the rudder angle to achieve the desired heaving to effect. In some cases, you may need to lock the helm in position or use a tiller-tamer device to maintain the rudder angle.
• Fine-tune and monitor: Once in the hove-to position, make any necessary adjustments to the sails, rudder, and other controls to achieve a stable and comfortable balance. Monitor the boat’s behavior, making sure it only drifts very slowly.

The boat won’t actually stop. It will typically lie about 60 degrees off the wind, sailing at around 1 knot, and sliding to leeward.

The motion will be much less than under sail, and dramatically more stable and pleasant than dropping all sails and lying ahull. You will also be using up less sea room than if you run before the storm at great speed.

Heaving to provides a stable platform in which you can wait out a storm, take a break, or perform necessary tasks while minimizing the boat’s motion and maintaining control.

It’s important to note that the specific technique may vary depending on your sailboat’s design and the prevailing conditions, so always consult your sailboat’s manual or seek guidance from experienced sailors for your particular boat type.

Drogue Or Sea Anchor

A drogue or sea anchor is a device used in boating and sailing to provide stability and control in heavy weather or when facing strong currents, winds or waves. Its primary purpose is to reduce a boat’s drift and help maintain a more stable position relative to wind and waves.

Here are the key points and benefits of using a drogue or sea anchor:

• Reducing drift: In stormy conditions, strong winds and currents can cause a boat to drift uncontrollably, potentially leading to loss of steering and stability. By deploying a drogue or sea anchor, the device creates drag in the water, effectively slowing down the boat’s drift and providing a steadier position.
• Enhancing stability: When a drogue or sea anchor is deployed from the stern of a boat, it helps to stabilize the vessel by reducing yawing (side-to-side motion) and rolling caused by wind and waves. This stability can be crucial for crew safety, preventing excessive motion and reducing the risk of capsizing or broaching.
• Improving safety: In extreme conditions, using a drogue or sea anchor can significantly improve overall safety on board. It reduces the risk of broaching (where the boat is turned broadside to the waves) and pitch-poling (when the boat’s bow is driven under a breaking wave), both of which can lead to dangerous situations. The device helps to create a controlled environment, minimizing the chances of damage, injuries, or loss of control.

We have never needed to use our drogue, but we have been close even in the Mediterranean, so it’s good to be prepared.

If you don’t have one but you find yourself in storm conditions where you need one, then doing something like hanging lines from the stern of the boat can actually make quite a big difference,

Sailing in big waves is not for the faint of heart, but if you trust your boat and your captain it can be an exciting experience!

One of the hardest things about sailing in big waves is steering. Your most experienced helmsman should be on the helm when the weather gets rough. Reading the waves is vital.

One of the key things to remember is that you must not sail on a reach across tall, breaking waves. If they hit you at the right angle and at the right time there is every possibility they could roll the boat. It’s a good idea to be familiar with capsize ratio and what this could mean for you.

If you have to sail upwind (we would do everything possible to avoid this!) then aim towards the parts of the wave that aren’t breaking. There is huge force in breaking waves and you want to avoid them if you can. Or you might lose your paddleboard!

Tack in smooth water if possible, and try to keep the speed up as you’re going over the waves so you don’t lose steerage.

The best option is to sail on a broad reach. Even though we knew this we still attempted to sail upwind to reach our destination and it simply wasn’t possible in our older, heavy displacement boat. Instead, we turned downwind and ran all the way to Italy. It wasn’t where we needed to go (far from it) but as soon as we turned downwind the ride got a whole lot more comfortable and manageable.

When running downwind you will just need to be careful you don’t broach and turn the boat beam on to a wave. This might mean you need to deploy a drogue to slow the boat down.

Post-Storm Assessment

After the storm has passed, it’s essential to assess any damage and evaluate your performance. Someone we know sailed through the night in a storm and when he reached port he carried out a rigging inspection (knowing how much strain had been put on it).

He’s lucky the mast didn’t come down while he was up there, as there were some pretty serious points of failure just about to give. If he’d gone out sailing without checking it out first he could have been in big trouble!

Along with checking the boat for any damage it’s a great idea to do a storm debrief with your crew. Think through the things you managed really well and the things you would have done differently (there’s always something!)

Every scenario is so different, so it’s great to build up a mental picture of things that worked in certain situations and things that didn’t. Next time you get caught in bad weather you’ll be even better prepared.

In conclusion, sailing in a storm is undoubtedly one of the most challenging and intense experiences a sailor can face. It will test your skills, courage, and resilience to the core.

Yet, it is also during these tempestuous moments that the true spirit of sailing shines through. The stormy seas teach us invaluable lessons about ourselves and our abilities as sailors. It’s where I have really built confidence in my sailboat and my own strengths.

While the prospect of sailing in a storm may seem daunting, it is important to remember that with proper preparation, knowledge, and seamanship, it is possible to navigate through even the fiercest of storms. You’ll probably give up long before your sailboat will!

Understanding weather patterns, having a well-maintained vessel, and equipping oneself with the necessary safety gear are crucial steps to minimize risks.

During a storm, it is essential to remain calm and focused. Keep a clear mind, assess the situation, and make informed decisions. Trust your instincts and rely on your training and experience. Remember that storms are temporary, and your skill as a sailor will guide you towards safer waters.

Sailing in a storm also fosters a profound connection with nature. It reminds us of the immense power and unpredictability of the sea. As the winds howl and the waves crash, there is an undeniable sense of awe and respect for the forces at play.

While I wasn’t holding on for dear life, I did have time to stare in awe at the power of the ocean and it was quite an incredible feeling to be in the middle of it all. It’s the main reason people think of sailing as dangerous , and I could see why in that moment!

Lastly, sailing in a storm builds character. It teaches us perseverance, adaptability, and problem-solving skills. It cultivates a sense of resilience and fortitude that extends far beyond the realm of sailing.

In the end, while sailing in a storm may not be for the faint of heart, it is an experience that pushes us to our limits and reveals the true strength within us. But please don’t head out into one on purpose – one will find you soon enough!

It is in the face of adversity that we grow as sailors and as individuals. So, if you ever find yourself caught in a storm at sea, embrace the challenge, trust your skills, and let the storm propel you towards a greater understanding of yourself and the remarkable world of sailing.

If you’re looking for something a little more uplifting to read after this article then check out the best ocean captions for Instagram , which are a lot more light hearted and fun that talking about storms!

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Video: 6 of the best heavy weather sailing videos

• Harriett Ferris
• June 18, 2017

Watch our pick of the most dramatic heavy weather videos

This first video of heavy weather sailing is our from our Storm Sailing Series with Skip Novak . It was probably the most ambitious project Yachting World has ever undertaken: to head for Cape Horn with high latitudes doyen Skip Novak to make a series on Storm Sailing Techniques . Here is one of our most popular videos, rounding Cape Horn in Storm Force 10 conditions…

Hallberg Rassy are known for being heavy, sturdy, seaworthy boats.  This video shows Hallberg Rassy 48 Elysium in heavy weather off Cape Gris Nez, northern France in 2014. The yacht seems to be handling well, able to use a Raymarine lineair 7000 autopilot depsite the conditions.

This compilation is from the BT Global Challenge round the world race, a crewed race westabout the prevailing winds in one-design steel 72-footers. It took amateur crews upwind through the Southern Ocean from Cape Horn to New Zealand and from Australia to Cape Town. This footage shows some of the weather they experienced and what the crews endured – and watch out for some footage of the race leaders fighting it out under trysail during a severe storm in the Cook Strait in New Zealand.

Single-handed sailor Berthold Hinrichs sailing in Hinlopenstretet. It is the 150km long strait between Spitsbergen and Nordaustlandet in Svalbard, Norway and can be difficult to pass because of pack ice.

A fun compilation video of sailing in strong breeze including 2 wipeouts, 1 dismasting and 1 guy going for a swim…

Our last example comes from popular YouTube channel Sailing SV Delos , as the crew tackle a 50-knot gale on the crossing to Madagascar. Skip to 8:00 for the stormy stuff:

If you enjoyed this….

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HOW TO SAIL SAFELY THROUGH A STORM

Tips and tricks to help you get home safe.

Compared to the quick response and sudden nature of a squall , sailing through a storm in open water is an endurance contest. In addition to big wind, you’ll have to deal with big waves and crew fatigue.

Sailing in Waves

Sailing in big waves is a test of seamanship and steering, which is why you should put your best driver on the helm. Experienced dinghy sailors often are very good at heavy air steering, because they see “survival” weather more often than most cruisers.

Avoid sailing on a reach across tall breaking waves; they can roll a boat over. When sailing close-hauled in waves, aim toward flat spots while keeping speed up so you can steer. To reduce the chance of a wave washing across the deck, tack in relatively smooth water. A cubic foot of water weighs 64 pounds, so a wave can bring many hundreds of pounds of water across the deck.

Sailing on a run or broad reach in big waves is exhilarating, but be careful not to broach and bring the boat beam-to a breaker. Rig a preventer to hold the boom out.

Storm Sails

If reefing isn’t enough to reduce power, it’s time to dig out your storm sails — the storm trysail and storm jib. They may seem tiny, but since wind force rises exponentially, they’re the right size for a really big blow. Storm trysails are usually trimmed to the rail, but some modern ones are set on the boom. The storm jib should be set just forward of the mast to keep the sail plan’s center of effort near the boat’s center of lateral resistance. This helps keep the boat in balance.

Storm Strategy

The first decision before an approaching storm is the toughest: Run for cover, or head out to open water for sea room? With modern forecasting, a true storm will rarely arrive unannounced, but as you venture further offshore the chances of being caught out increase. While running for cover would seem the preferred choice, the danger lies in being caught in the storm, close to shore, with no room to maneuver or run off.

Two classic storm strategies are to try to keep away from land so you’re not blown up on shore, and to sail away from the storm’s path — especially its “dangerous semicircle,” which is its right side as it advances.

Storm Tactics

Storm tactics help you handle a storm once you’re in it. There are several proven choices, all of which aim to reduce the strain and motion by pointing one of the boat’s ends (either bow or stern) toward the waves. No one tactic will work best for all boats in all conditions.

Sail under storm jib and deeply reefed mainsail or storm trysail. This approach provides the most control. Sails give you the power to steer and control your boat in the waves.

Run before the storm with the stern toward the waves, perhaps towing a drogue to slow the boat. This tactic requires a lot of sea room, and the boat must be steered actively. Another concern is that you will remain in front of an approaching storm, rather than sailing out of its path.

Heave-to on a close reach with the jib trimmed to windward. Heaving-to can be an excellent heavy weather tactic, though some boats fare better than others.

Deploy a sea anchor while hove-to or under bare poles. A sea anchor is a small parachute set at the end of a line off the bow. A sea anchor helps keep the bow up into the waves so the boat won’t end up beam to the seas. One concern is the load on the rudder as waves push the boat aft.

Another alternative is lying ahull, simply sitting with sails down. This passive alternative is less reliable than the other tactics, as you lose the ability to control your angle to the waves and may end up beam to the seas. Furthermore, the motion of the boat rolling in the waves without the benefit of sails can be debilitating.

Want to order a storm trysail or storm jib for your boat? Contact a North Sails Expert here .

How to Heave-To

Wouldn’t it be great if, during a heavy air sail, you could just take a break, and relax for a bit? Imagine a short respite from the relentless pitching and pounding: a chance to rest, take a meal, or check over the boat in relative tranquility. Well, you can. The lost art of heaving-to allows you to “park” in open water.

To heave-to, trim the jib aback (i.e., to the wrong side), trim the main in hard, and lash the helm so the boat will head up once it gains steerageway. As the jib tries to push the bow down, the bow turns off the wind and the main fills, moving the boat forward. Once the boat begins to make headway, the lashed helm turns the boat toward the wind again. As the main goes soft the jib once again takes over, pushing the bow down. The main refills, and the rudder pushes the bow into the wind again.

The boat won’t actually stop. It will lie about 60 degrees off the wind, sailing at 1 or 2 knots, and making significant leeway (sliding to leeward). The motion will be much less than under sail, and dramatically more stable and pleasant than dropping all sails and lying ahull. You will also be using up less sea room than if you run before the storm at great speed.

Achieving this balance will require some fine tuning, depending on the wind strength, your boat design, and the sails you are flying. Also, fin-keeled boats do not heave to as well as more traditional designs.

In storm seas, some boats will require a sea anchor off the bow to help hold the boat up into the waves while hove-to.

Alternate Storm Strategy: Don’t Go

If conditions are wrong, or are forecast to worsen, don’t go. If you can avoid the storm, then do so.

If you’re at home, stay there. If you’re mid-cruise, button up the boat, make sure your anchor or mooring or dock lines are secure, and then read a book or play cards. Relax. Enjoy the time with your shipmates. Study the pile of Owners’ Manuals you’ve accumulated with each piece of new gear. Tinker with boat projects.

Put some soup on the stove, and check on deck every so often to make sure the boat is secure. Shake your head as you return below, and remark, “My oh my, is it nasty out there.”

If your boat is threatened by a tropical storm or hurricane, strip all excess gear from the deck, double up all docking or mooring lines, protect those lines from chafe, and get off. Don’t risk your life to save your boat.

Misery and Danger

Although everyone will remember it differently years later, a long, wet, cold sail through a storm can be miserable. As the skipper, you need to make the best of it: watch over your crew, offer relief or help to those who need it, and speak a few words of encouragement to all. “This is miserable, but it will end.”

Take the time to marvel at the forces of nature, and at your ability to carry on in the midst of the storm. Few people get to experience the full fury of a storm. It may not be pleasant, but it is memorable.

While misery and discomfort can eventually lead to fatigue, diminished performance, and even danger, do not mistake one for the other. Distinguish in your own mind the difference between misery and danger. Don’t attempt a dangerous harbor entrance to escape misery; that would compromise the safety of the boat and crew, just to avoid a little discomfort.

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Storm Tactics for Heavy Weather Sailing

• By Bill Gladstone
• Updated: November 15, 2021

Storm tactics can be roughly defined as the ways to handle a storm once you’re in it. There are several proven choices, all of which intend to keep either the bow or stern pointing toward the waves. No one tactic will work best for all sailboats in all conditions. As skipper, it will be up to you to consider the best approach for your vessel, procure the right equipment, and practice with it before it’s needed.

Here we look at some active storm options that might work when conditions are still manageable and you want to actively control and steer the boat. Crew fatigue is a serious consideration when using active tactics.

Forereaching

Although not often mentioned as a tactic, it can be highly effective for combating brief squalls or moderate-duration storms. Here’s how to set up your boat for forereaching: Roll the jib away (especially if you have a large roller-furler genoa set); reef the main down to the second or third reef position; and sail on a closehauled course, concentrating on keeping the boat flat. It will be a comfortable ride, everyone will be relatively happy, and you will be making 2 to 3 knots on a close reach. Check your course over ground because increased leeway will cause your track to be much lower. This is a possibly useful tactic to claw off a lee shore. Note that not all boats will be at ease forereaching, so you’d better experiment with it ahead of time. Catamarans in particular will lurch and demonstrate much-increased leeway.

Motorsailing

Sometimes it’s necessary from a time or safety perspective to stow the jib and fire up the iron genny instead. Motorsailing lets you point high and make progress to windward. Motoring with no sails will not work well (or at all, in some cases), particularly in big seas, but a reefed mainsail will provide lateral stability and extra power. Trim the main, head up high enough to control your angle of heel, set the autopilot, and keep a lookout. Fuel consumption makes this a short-term option.

Here’s a tip: Make sure cooling water is pumping through the engine. On some sailboats, the water intake lifts out of the water when heeled. A further difficulty is that the pitching boat might stir sediment off the bottom of the fuel tank, which can, in turn, clog the fuel filter.

Running off and drogues

Sailing under storm jib and a deeply reefed mainsail or storm trysail provides the most control. If you don’t have storm sails, a reefed jib will give you the power to steer and control your boat in the waves. The boat must be steered actively to maintain control because no autopilot will be able to do this.

If excessive speed is a problem and steering becomes difficult, towing a drogue will slow the boat. A retrieval line should be set from the head of the drogue for when it is time to bring it back on board. If you don’t have a drogue, trailing warps might help slow the boat.

In a storm of longer duration, or when conditions become otherwise unmanageable, the situation might call for a skipper to consider passive storm tactics. When you are exhausted and you just want to quiet down the boat and maybe get some rest, there are other boathandling options available, depending on the sea state and the ­equipment you have onboard.

Heaving to can be an excellent heavy-weather tactic, though some boats fare better than others. Wouldn’t it be great if during a heavy-weather episode you could just slow everything way down? Imagine a short respite with a reduced amount of motion from the relentless pitching and pounding. A chance to regroup, make a meal, or check over the boat. Well, you can.

Heaving to allows you to “park” in open water. Hove-to trim has the jib trimmed aback (that is, to the wrong side), the reefed main eased, and the helm lashed down to leeward. The easiest way to do this is to trim the jib sheet hard and then tack the boat, leaving the sheet in place. Trimmed this way, the jib pushes the bow down. As the bow turns off the wind, the main fills and the boat moves forward. With the helm lashed down, the rudder turns the boat toward the wind. As the main goes soft, the jib once again takes over, pushing the bow down. The main refills, and the rudder pushes the bow into the wind again.

RELATED: Safety at Sea: Mental Preparations Contribute to Positive Outcomes

Achieving this balance will require some fine-­tuning, depending on the wind strength, your boat design and the sails you have. You might, for example, need to furl the jib most of the way in to match the wind strength. Trimming the main will ensure that the bow is at an angle to the waves, ideally pointing 40 to 60 degrees off. Modern fin-keeled boats do not heave to as well as more-traditional full-keel designs.

When hove to, the boat won’t actually stop. It will lie, as noted, about 40 to 60 degrees off the wind, sailing at 1 or 2 knots, and making leeway (sliding to leeward). Beware of chafe. When hove to, the jib’s clew or sheet will be up against the shroud and might experience wear damage. Monitor this regularly, and change the position of the sheet occasionally. You might not want to heave to for an extended time.

Deploying a sea anchor

A sea anchor is a small parachute deployed on a line off the bow. A sea anchor helps keep the bow pointed up into the waves so the boat won’t end up beam to the seas. Light displacement boats will pitch violently in high seas, and chafe and damage might occur to the bow, so setting up a bridle and leading it aft through a snatch block will allow the boat to lie at an angle to the waves, providing a more comfortable ride. A big concern when using a sea anchor is the load on the rudder as the waves slam the boat backward. Chafe on the sea-anchor bridle is another big factor, so the bridle must be tended regularly.

Remember, if you and your vessel are caught out in heavy-weather conditions, as a skipper, you must show leadership by setting an example, watching over your crew, offering relief and help to those who need it, and giving encouragement. Remember too, discomfort and fear can lead to fatigue, diminished performance, and poor decision-making. Don’t compromise the safety of the boat and crew to escape discomfort.

Few people get to ­experience the full fury of a storm. Advances in weather forecasting, routing and communications greatly improve your odds of avoiding heavy weather at sea, but you’re likely to experience it at some point, so think ahead of time about the tactics and tools available to keep your crew and vessel safe.

Heavy weather might not be pleasant, but it is certainly memorable, and it will make you a better sailor. Take the time to marvel at the forces of nature; realize that the boat is stronger than you think.

Happy sailing, and may all your storms be little ones!

This story is an edited excerpt from the American Sailing Association’s recently released manual, Advanced Cruising & Seamanship , by Bill Gladstone, produced in collaboration with North U. It has been edited for design purposes and style. You can find out more at asa.com.

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Heavy weather sailing techniques: how to protect your boat in storm conditions

• August 13, 2024

Øyvind Bordal and Magne Klann explain the steps you need to take to protect your rig and sails when the weather turns

If the boat and crew are well prepared, then the risks of sailng in storm conditions are severely reduced. Credit: David Hancock/Alamy

There is every reason to have respect for really rough weather, be it a gale, strong gale or storm-force winds. However, with a well-prepared boat with an experienced crew, there is statistically very little risk, writes Øyvind Bordal and Magne Klann .

Sails and trim will also affect safety and comfort. The single most important thing you can do for safety when it comes to storms at sea is not to be on the water at all when the weather gets really bad.

Good weather forecasting is important, along with the will and ability to postpone or cut the trip short, even if it causes troublesome changes to your plans.

The risk of serious problems is also significantly reduced if the boat is robust and in proper condition on the essential points: rudder , keel , through-hull fittings, rigging , sails and engine .

In other words: The most important safety feature is preparation: things you do or don’t do while the boat is still in port.

Of course, in spite of good intentions you can find yourself at sea in weather you’d not have chosen to be out in.

Here are some thoughts on how to handle that situation, with regard to sails and rigging.

Heavy weather sailing: Secured rig and sail plan

To handle a storm safely the rig has to be secure and correctly tuned . It really pays off to have a good base trim and sufficient rig tension.

The next point on the list is to adapt sails to the conditions.

Make sure not to ease the backstay too much for the conditions, especially on open wind angles

Sails used in really bad conditions should be designed and made for them, but once in the situation you will of course have to use whatever you have on board.

Reefing to adapt the size of the sail area is priority number one and this should be done in good time.

Even simple and small tasks will become very difficult once the storm hits. All work on the foredeck will be hard and not entirely safe.

If there are storm sails on the boat, rig and prepare them as early as possible.

Heavy weather sailing: Damage control

In these conditions trim is not so much about speed.

Still, it is important that the boat is moving forward effectively, especially if conditions worsen and there is an opportunity to find shelter, reach port or get out of the weather system.

The main thing is to prevent injuries and technical problems.

Take care not to overload or damage the equipment you will need to sail the boat. This goes for the whole boat and also when reefing, bending sails and working on the rig.

Heavy weather sailing: Stabilizing the mast

The base trim and a tight backstay should ensure rig tension in all directions.

Do not ease the backstay much on open wind angles, it is more important to stabilise the rig than to optimise the sail profile.

Check regularly that the mast is straight sideways and has a proper longitudinal pre-bend.

If you notice anything strange, ease the sheets immediately to depower the sails and examine the situation more closely.

If a shroud breaks on the weather side, the mast will come down very quickly, but if a fault is detected before it totally gives way, you can save the rig by coming about in a hurry, so the damage ends up on the leeward side.

Now the mast can be stabilised with halyards attached to the chainplate or toe rail and tightened up as hard as possible.

A broken lower shroud can be ‘imitated’ with a halyard led under the spreaders and preferably also a turn around the mast.

This will rule out the use of the mainsail but could save the rig. The mid-section of the mast must never bend backwards, which can happen when the mainsail is deeply reefed and there is not enough tension in the backstay.

If possible, the midsection of the mast should bend slightly forward.

Any kind of pumping or jerks in the mast must be avoided, if at all possible.

Tighten check stay and baby stay if the boat is rigged with these.

Reef at all angles to the wind

Reefed sails should also be trimmed. A simple yet essential check is that the halyard and reefing line are tensioned properly.

This provides a flat open sail with the deepest point well forward, which is what you need.

The sheeting point for the headsail must be adjusted until the sail twists properly – too little will increase side force; too much could ruin the sail (flogging top/leech).

Remember to tighten the leech line – it will make your sails last longer. Credit: Graham Snook/YM

Also, remember to tighten the leech line. If the sail is allowed to vibrate in the leech, the life of the sail will be greatly shortened.

The noise from vibrating leeches is also a stress factor for the crew.

It is equally important (but not as obvious) to reef on open wind angles. Lateral forces are less and boat speed greater, so it feels much quieter.

This is however a false impression.

As conditions worsen, it may become difficult to reef or reduce sail and you could lose control over the boat.

Please feel free to take the mainsail down on open angles – and if not, use a preventer.

Balancing with the mainsail

In rough weather, it’s important to keep balance in mind. It’s usually a good idea to have relatively low pressure in the mainsail compared to the headsail.

Upwind, the boat heels a lot, especially in gusts and when hit by waves. You’ll be able to steer the boat better with the centre of effort well forward.

The jib sheet should be tight, but allow the sail to twist. Still, the headsail should not be too flat.

The optimal sail in storm-force conditions is a very small sail, but with some profile. This provides a wider track and smoother progress.

If the boat heels over too much, and the mainsheet has been released, steer into the wind to balance the boat

The waves will throw the bow around a lot and precise steering will be difficult.

The mainsheet should be set rather loosely but keep a very tight backstay. The mainsail is usually reduced to a tool for balance, not speed.

If a gust heels the boat too much, even with a released mainsheet, steer into the wind.

Ultimately, if needed, ease the jib sheet too. If this happens a lot, it’s a signal the boat is overpowered for the conditions.

Releasing the jib sheet should be a ‘last resort’.

If the waves are more on the nose on one tack than the other, point high on the tack where waves are more from the side and lower on the tack where waves are more on the bow.

Pressure point in the sails

Downwind it is even more important to move the centre of effort forward.

This will keep the bow down with the wind and reduce the chances of a broach and ultimately an involuntary gybe.

If the boat is heavy on the helm, do something about it. Sheets are the first place to look.

Weather helm is often a signal that the mainsail should be eased out, reefed or taken down.

Heavy weather sailing: Storm sails

A trysail is a storm sail that can be used as an alternative to a fully reefed mainsail – but it is actually very rarely used in practice.

Make sure the trysail is rigged before the heavy weather hits

If it is going to be of any use, it requires two things: firstly, that it has been tried out beforehand, so you know the procedures, sheeting point etc, and secondly that it is rigged and prepared before the storm sets in.

If the boat is rigged with a furling headsail, as most boats are, it could be a challenge to set a storm jib.

If you sail on the open sea or want to be prepared for foul weather, it’s a good idea to have an inner forestay or cutter stay, where you could hank on a storm jib.

Hanks are the most reliable system. There are also storm jibs that can be set ‘flying’, ie with the stay integrated with the sail, often with a Spectra line.

They require a solid mounting point on the foredeck.

Other storm jibs are designed to wrap around the rolled-up furler, with a kind of pouch in the luff.

Storm jib alone is a good plan for open wind angles. Credit: Fernhurst Books

Feedback from people who have a lot of experience sailing in rough weather suggests that these storm jibs do not necessarily work that well in practice.

The simplest yet most risky option is to sail with a small piece of furling headsail out.

It will work well on open angles and not so well close hauled, but the risk is that the furling line could break, or that the system becomes overloaded and the whole sail gets torn out of the roll.

There are major forces at play. To find yourself with a fully unfurled genoa in a storm is a difficult and dangerous situation.

If you sail with a reefed furling headsail instead of a storm jib, it’s a good idea to secure the furler with a strap to prevent it from rotating.

Boats rigged for ocean passages sometimes (if they intend to use a trysail) have a separate track on the mast for the purpose.

If setting a trysail requires that the mainsail slides are taken out of the mast track, or if the trysail has to be rigged above the lashed mainsail, then it will be very difficult to rig it in a storm.

Heavy weather sailing: Storm strategy

Credit: Fernhurst Books

Running with the weather

A lot of seasoned sailors would argue that the best survival strategy for extreme weather is to go with the wind and waves.

Sailing with just a small storm jib can be a sensible setup. You could also drop all the sails and sail only on the rig.

To run with the weather assumes that there is room enough downwind, however.

Experienced sailors are always careful not to sail too close to a weather (lee) shore if there is a risk of extreme weather.

They will either seek shelter before the weather gets bad or head far out to sea, with plenty of space to sail with the weather – for several days if necessary.

Avoid placing the boat square to the wind and waves. Breaking waves can turn a boat over if it is beam to.

In very high seas you should try to limit your speed down the waves. Long, heavy ropes streaming astern can help and can also curb breaking waves to a certain extent.

A risk when running with the wind and waves is that the helmsman eventually will get exhausted and that sooner or later you’ll experience a violent broach or knockdown.

Moreover, you are sailing many miles in a direction that’s not necessarily a good one.

Still, to sail with the weather will be the easiest choice and could also be the right decision in less dramatic circumstances.

Even if the situation may not be dangerous, it will often be a good idea to turn around and sail back with the wind, or change the destination to somewhere downwind.

Heaving-to is an old, traditional way to survive harsh weather.

Modern boats are not always designed and balanced in a way that makes the technique suitable and the method is rarely used these days.

But with a traditional, long-keeled boat, it may be relevant to heave-to and wait for better weather.

You should try it out in controlled conditions, to know how your boat reacts.

This is how it is done: when the boat is sailing close-hauled (upwind) you initiate a normal tack, but leave the jib sheet attached so that the jib is backed.

The mainsheet is loosened and adjusted so the boat balances, but without the mainsail contributing much to forward progress.

Practice heaving-to before you need to use it while heavy weather sailing. Credit: Richard Langdon/Ocean Images

The rudder is hard over, steering the boat into the wind. The backed jib now forces the boat to leeward, while the helm pushes the boat to windward.

The idea is that these two forces will counteract each other and keep the boat in balance.

When this works as intended, the bow will be pointing at a 45° angle towards the waves and wind, with hardly any speed ahead, but also without drifting much.

The boat will now deal with the waves relatively well.

The rudder may be locked in this position, so the whole crew can theoretically remain below deck until the weather improves, maintaining a proper lookout.

In extreme weather, the boat might be knocked down by the forces in the backed headsail, but nonetheless; many have safely weathered a storm this way.

Using a sea anchor or drogue will keep the boat’s bow towards the waves, reducing the risk of a knockdown

A drogue or sea anchor helps to keep the bow towards the waves.

The rope should be long and with stretch and the sea anchor should preferably be in step with the waves, so the boat and drogue are on top of a wave at the same time.

Safety while heavy weather sailing

• Stay on board. In other words: Hold on! Be aware and take care when you move about on deck. Use a harness when conditions demand it.
• Use a lifejacket , preferably one with a personal emergency beacon, so that you can easily be found if you should fall in the water.
• Be aware of the boom when the boat sails downwind, especially in high seas. Use a preventer, make sure the helmsman is focused and that the crew knows what an involuntary gybe is. Avoid a dead downwind run, especially with any kind of mainsail up.
• Check if the boat is taking on water, either through leaky or defective through-hull fittings, piping systems, deck hatches or elsewhere. Don’t forget to concentrate on navigation!

Additional reading:

Øyvind Bordal and Magne Klann have written extensively about sail trim and rig care in their book Sail and Rig: The Tuning Guide , which is published by Fernhurst Books (£18) and available at fernhurstbooks.com

The book provides a clear understanding of the dynamics of rig and sail and how to get them working together in harmony. Professional riggers, sailmakers and elite sailors were consulted for the book, which is suitable for both beginner and experienced sailors.

Continues below…

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Heaving to: a question of balance

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7 Storm Jibs on test

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When the breeze picks up, how do you stop your boat taking charge and going where it wants? David Harding…

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How to Survive Sailing in a Storm: Tips and Tricks for a Safe Voyage

The thrill of sailing on calm waters is an experience like no other, but sometimes, Mother Nature has other plans. As a sailor, it’s crucial to be prepared for the unexpected, including sailing through a storm. 

The phrase “sail through the storm” may sound counterintuitive, but it refers to the actions you need to take to safely navigate stormy weather while aboard a sailing vessel. 

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore what to do when sailing in a storm, how ships survive these tempestuous conditions, and the steps you can take to ensure your safety.

Key Takeaways Sailing in a storm is not something to take lightly. It requires careful planning, preparation, and execution. The best way to avoid sailing in a storm is to check the weather forecast regularly and plan your route accordingly. If possible, seek shelter before the storm hits or sail away from its path. If you have to sail through a storm, you need to reduce your sail area, balance your boat, steer actively, and secure everything on deck and below. There are different storm tactics that you can use depending on the wind direction, wave height, sea room, and boat type. Some of the most common ones are sailing under storm sails, running before the storm with a drogue, heaving-to, lying ahull, or anchoring. No matter what tactic you choose, you need to monitor the situation closely and be ready to adapt if necessary. You also need to take care of yourself and your crew by staying hydrated, rested, warm, and calm.

What is a Storm?

Before we dive into the details of sailing in a storm, let’s first define what we mean by a storm. 

At this level, the sea is completely covered with long white patches of foam, and visibility is greatly reduced.

Of course, not all storms are created equal. Some storms are more severe than others, depending on factors such as wind direction, wind duration, air pressure, temperature, humidity, cloud cover, precipitation, lightning, thunder, etc. 

Some storms are also more localized than others, meaning they affect only a small area for a short time. For example, squalls are sudden bursts of strong wind that usually last for less than an hour and can occur in clear or cloudy weather.

The most dangerous storms for sailors are tropical cyclones (also known as hurricanes or typhoons), which are large rotating systems of clouds and thunderstorms that form over warm ocean waters. 

These storms can have wind speeds of over 74 knots (85 mph) and can cause massive waves, storm surges, flooding, landslides, and damage to coastal areas. 

Tropical cyclones are classified into five categories based on their maximum sustained wind speed:

Tropical cyclones usually form between June and November in the Atlantic Ocean and between May and November in the Pacific Ocean. 

They have different names depending on where they occur:

The best way to avoid sailing in a tropical cyclone is to stay away from its path. You can track the location and movement of tropical cyclones using satellite images, radio broadcasts, websites, apps, or other sources of information. 

You can also use tools such as the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale or the Dvorak Technique to estimate the intensity of a tropical cyclone based on its appearance.

How to Prepare for Sailing in a Storm

The best way to deal with sailing in a storm is to prevent it from happening in the first place. This means planning your trip carefully and checking the weather forecast regularly before and during your voyage. You should also have a contingency plan in case things go wrong.

Here are some steps you can take to prepare for sailing in a storm:

Check the Weather Forecast

The weather forecast is your best friend when it comes to sailing safely. You should always check the weather forecast before you leave port and update it frequently while you are at sea. You should also pay attention to any weather warnings or alerts that may indicate an approaching storm.

There are many sources of weather information that you can use depending on your location and equipment. Some of them are:

• VHF radio: You can listen to marine weather broadcasts from local stations or coast guard services that provide information on wind speed and direction, wave height and period, sea state, visibility, precipitation, cloud cover, air pressure, temperature, and humidity. You can also request specific weather information from some stations or services using voice or digital selective calling (DSC).
• HF radio: You can receive weather fax images or text messages from various stations around the world that transmit information on synoptic charts, satellite images, wind/wave analysis, tropical cyclone warnings, etc. You need an HF radio receiver and a modem or software to decode the signals.
• NAVTEX: You can receive text messages from coastal stations that broadcast information on navigational warnings, meteorological warnings, ice reports, search and rescue information, etc. You need a NAVTEX receiver or an HF radio receiver with NAVTEX capability to receive the messages.
• NOAA National Weather Service
• NOAA National Hurricane Center
• PredictWind
• Buoyweather
• PassageWeather
• WeatherTrack
• Barometer: You can measure the air pressure using a barometer or an electronic device that has a barometer function. You can use the barometer readings to detect changes in the weather conditions. A falling barometer indicates an approaching low-pressure system that may bring bad weather. A rising barometer indicates an approaching high-pressure system that may bring good weather.

When checking the weather forecast, you should look for signs of an impending storm such as:

• A rapid drop in air pressure
• A sudden increase in wind speed or direction
• A change in cloud type or cover
• A change in temperature or humidity
• A change in visibility or precipitation
• A presence of lightning or thunder
• The presence of waterspouts or funnel clouds

You should also compare different sources of weather information to get a more accurate picture of the situation. Sometimes different sources may have conflicting or outdated information due to errors or delays in transmission or reception.

Plan Your Route

Once you have checked the weather forecast, you should plan your route accordingly. You should avoid sailing into areas where storms are likely to occur or where they may trap you against land or other obstacles. You should also have alternative destinations or safe havens in case you need to change your plans or seek shelter.

There are different tools and methods that you can use to plan your route, such as:

• Paper charts: You can use paper charts to plot your course and waypoints using a pencil, ruler, compass, and dividers. You should also have a chart table or a flat surface where you can spread out your charts and keep them dry and secure. Paper charts are reliable and easy to use, but they can be bulky, expensive, and outdated.
• Electronic charts: You can use electronic charts on your laptop, tablet, smartphone, or dedicated chart plotter device. You can also download or update your charts online or offline. Electronic charts are convenient and interactive, but they can be inaccurate, incompatible, or corrupted. They also depend on electricity and GPS signals, which may fail in a storm.
• Online tools: You can use online tools such as OpenSeaMap , SailingEurope , or FastSeas to plan your route using your web browser. You can also access various features such as weather data, nautical charts, marina information, etc. Online tools are useful and versatile, but they require an internet connection, which may not be available or reliable at sea.

When planning your route, you should consider factors such as:

• Distance: You should calculate the distance between your starting point and your destination, as well as between each waypoint along the way. You should also estimate the time it will take you to cover the distance based on your boat speed and the expected weather conditions. You should plan to sail at a comfortable and safe pace, without pushing yourself or your boat too hard.
• Direction: You should determine the direction of your course and waypoints using magnetic bearings or true bearings. You should also account for the variation and deviation of your compass due to the earth’s magnetic field and your boat’s magnetic interference. You should also adjust your course for the effects of wind, current, and leeway on your boat’s movement.
• Depth: You should check the depth of the water along your route using depth soundings or contour lines on your charts. You should also be aware of the tide levels and currents that may affect the depth of the water at different times and locations. You should avoid sailing in shallow water or near rocks, reefs, wrecks, or other hazards that may damage your boat or cause grounding.
• Destination: You should choose your destination carefully based on your preferences and needs. You should also research your destination before you arrive, such as its facilities, services, regulations, customs, culture, etc. You should also have a backup destination in case your primary one is unavailable or unsuitable.

Prepare Your Boat

Surviving a storm requires a great level of preparedness and it all begins long before setting out on a sail. As such, your chances of weathering a storm will increase if your boat is properly prepared to endure bad days on the water.

A major part of controlling your boat and the crew in a heavy storm is being prepared for the worst. This means that you should have your boat properly rigged to easily access anything in short order. Whether you can see a storm coming from far away or see it within seconds and on top of your head, the boat should be well prepared to deal with any condition.

It’s fundamental to ensure that your lifelines are secure, the lines are strong and unworn, and all the emergency gear is on board and up to date. You should also update yourself on the weather on the days you’re planning to go out though it may be inaccurate.

Some of the things you should check and prepare before sailing include:

• Hull integrity : Check for any cracks, leaks, or damage on the hull that could compromise its strength or water tightness. Repair any defects or reinforce any weak spots as needed.
• Rigging : Check all the standing rigging (mast, shrouds, stays) and running rigging (halyards, sheets) for any signs of wear or damage. Replace any frayed or broken lines or fittings. Lubricate any moving parts such as blocks or winches. Make sure all the lines are neatly coiled and secured to prevent tangling or tripping.
• Sails : Check all your sails for any tears or holes that could worsen in high winds. Repair any damage or replace any worn-out sails as needed. Make sure you have at least one set of storm sails (storm jib and trysail) on board that are easy to hoist and lower. Reefing lines should be ready to use at any time.
• Engine : Check your engine for any issues that could affect its performance or reliability. Change the oil and filter if needed. Check the fuel level and quality. Make sure you have enough spare fuel on board. Test the engine before leaving the dock to make sure it starts and runs smoothly.
• Batteries : Check your batteries for any corrosion or damage that could affect their capacity or charge. Make sure they are fully charged before leaving the dock. Test all your electrical systems (lights, instruments, radios) to make sure they work properly.
• Bilge pumps : Check your bilge pumps for any clogs or malfunctions that could prevent them from working effectively. Make sure they are wired correctly and have enough power supply. Test them before leaving the dock to make sure they pump water out of the bilge.
• Emergency gear : Check all your emergency gear for any damage or expiration dates that could affect their usefulness or safety. Make sure you have enough life jackets, harnesses, tethers, liferaft, EPIRB, VHF radio, distress flares, fire extinguishers, first aid kit, etc. on board, and that they are easily accessible and visible. Make sure everyone knows how to use them properly.

Prepare Yourself

Your boat is not the only thing that needs to be prepared for sailing in a storm. You also need to prepare yourself mentally and physically for the challenge. You need to be aware of the risks and consequences of sailing in a storm and be ready to face them. You also need to take care of your health and well-being during the storm.

Here are some steps you can take to prepare yourself for sailing in a storm:

You need to learn as much as you can about sailing in a storm before you encounter one. You need to read books, articles, blogs, forums, etc. that provide information, advice, tips, tricks, stories, etc. about sailing in a storm. 

You also need to watch videos, podcasts, webinars, etc. that show demonstrations, explanations, interviews, testimonials, etc. about sailing in a storm. 

You also need to take courses, workshops, seminars, etc. that teach skills, techniques, strategies, etc. about sailing in a storm. Some examples of learning resources are:

• Storm Tactics Handbook by Lin and Larry Pardey
• Sailing in Storms by Sailing La Vagabonde
• Podcast by The Boat Galley
• Heavy Weather Sailing Course by NauticEd

You need to practice your skills and techniques for sailing in a storm before you face one. You need to practice sailing in different wind and wave conditions and try different storm tactics. 

You also need to practice using your gear and equipment and test their functionality and reliability. You also need to practice communicating with your crew and other boats or shore stations and test their availability and clarity.

The best way to practice sailing in a storm is to sail in moderate weather conditions that simulate some aspects of a storm, such as strong winds, choppy waves, low visibility, etc. 

You should avoid sailing in extreme weather conditions that may endanger your safety or damage your boat. You should also avoid sailing alone or without proper supervision or assistance.

When practicing sailing in a storm, you should follow these steps:

• Choose a suitable location that has enough sea room and no obstacles or hazards.
• Check the weather forecast and choose a time that has favorable conditions for practicing.
• Inform someone on shore about your plan and expected return time.
• Prepare your boat and yourself as if you were sailing in a real storm.
• Sail out of the harbor and head into the wind and waves.
• Try different storm tactics such as reefing, heaving-to, running with a drogue, etc.
• Use your gear and equipment such as storm sails, life jackets, VHF radio, etc.
• Communicate with your crew and other boats or shore stations using voice or signals.
• Monitor the situation closely and be ready to adapt if necessary.
• Sail back to the harbor when you are done practicing or when the conditions change.

You need to rest well before sailing in a storm because you may not get much sleep during the storm. You need to sleep at least eight hours before leaving port and take naps whenever possible while at sea. 

You also need to avoid alcohol, caffeine, or drugs that may affect your sleep quality or alertness.

Sleeping well before sailing in a storm will help you:

• Reduce fatigue and stress and improve mood and motivation
• Enhance memory and learning and improve decision-making and problem-solving
• Boost immunity and healing and prevent illness and injury

You need to eat well before sailing in a storm because you may not have much appetite during the storm. You need to eat balanced meals that provide enough calories and nutrients to sustain your energy and health. 

You also need to avoid spicy or greasy foods that may cause indigestion or nausea.

Eating well before sailing in a storm will help you:

• Maintain blood sugar and blood pressure levels and prevent hypoglycemia or hypertension
• Support muscle and bone strength and prevent weakness or injury

You need to hydrate well before sailing in a storm because you may lose a lot of fluids through sweating, vomiting, or diarrhea during the storm. You need to drink plenty of water or electrolyte drinks that can replenish your hydration and electrolyte levels. 

You also need to avoid alcohol, caffeine, or carbonated drinks that may dehydrate you or upset your stomach.

Hydrating well before sailing in a storm will help you:

• Prevent dehydration and heatstroke and improve thermoregulation and cooling
• Maintain blood volume and circulation and prevent hypotension or shock
• Support kidney and liver function and prevent infection or toxicity

How to Sail Through a Storm

If you have done everything you can to prepare for sailing in a storm, but you still find yourself in one, don’t panic. You need to stay calm and focused and follow some basic principles and procedures to sail safely through the storm.

Here are some steps you can take to sail through a storm:

Reduce Sail Area

The first thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to reduce your sail area. This will reduce the wind pressure on your boat and make it easier to control and balance. 

You need to reef your sails as soon as possible, before the wind gets too strong and makes it difficult or dangerous to do so. You also need to furl or stow any unnecessary sails, such as spinnakers, genoas, or staysails.

The amount of sail area you need to reduce depends on the wind speed, the wave height, the boat type, and your comfort level. 

As a general rule, you should reef your sails when the wind speed reaches 15 knots (17 mph) and reduce them further for every 5 knots (6 mph) increase. 

You should also reef your sails when the wave height reaches 1 meter (3 feet) and reduce them further for every 0.5 meters (1.5 feet) increase.

You should always reef your mainsail first, then your headsail. This will keep your boat balanced and prevent weather helm (when the boat wants to turn into the wind) or lee helm (when the boat wants to turn away from the wind). You should also reef your sails evenly and symmetrically, without leaving any loose or flapping parts.

If you have storm sails on board, you should hoist them when the wind speed reaches 40 knots (46 mph) or more. You should lower your regular sails completely and secure them on deck or below. 

You should hoist your storm jib just forward of the mast and your storm trysail on a separate track on the mast or on the boom.

Balance Your Boat

The second thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to balance your boat. This will reduce the heel angle and rolling motion of your boat and make it more stable and comfortable. 

You need to adjust your sail trim, your weight distribution, and your ballast system (if you have one) to achieve a balanced boat.

The sail trim is how you set the angle and shape of your sails relative to the wind direction and strength. You need to trim your sails so that they are not too tight or too loose, but just right. 

You also need to trim your sails so that they are not too full or too flat, but just right. A well-trimmed sail will have a smooth and even curve along its luff (front edge) and leech (back edge), without any wrinkles or creases.

The weight distribution is how you arrange the weight of your crew and gear on board. You need to distribute your weight so that it is not too far forward or too far aft, but just right. 

You also need to distribute your weight so that it is not too far to windward or too far to leeward, but just right. A well-distributed weight will keep your boat level and centered, without any pitching (up-and-down motion) or yawing (side-to-side motion).

The ballast system is how you use water tanks or movable weights to adjust the stability of your boat. You need to use your ballast system so that it is not too full or too empty, but just right. 

You also need to use your ballast system so that it is not too far forward or too far aft, but just right. 

A well-used ballast system will increase the righting moment (the force that keeps your boat upright) and decrease the capsizing moment (the force that tips your boat over).

Steer Actively

The third thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to steer actively. This will help you avoid being hit by breaking waves or being pushed off course by gusts of wind. 

You need to steer your boat so that it is not too close or too far from the wind direction, but just right. You also need to steer your boat so that it is not too fast or too slow, but just right.

The best way to steer actively is to use a combination of visual cues and instruments. You need to look at the wind indicator (such as a Windex ) on top of your mast or on your sail to see where the wind is coming from. 

You also need to look at the waves around you to see where they are going and how big they are. You also need to look at the compass on your dashboard or on your wrist to see what direction you are heading.

You also need to listen to the sound of the wind in your ears and feel its pressure on your face and body. You also need to listen to the sound of the water against your hull and feel its movement under your feet and seat. 

You also need to listen to the sound of your sails flapping or luffing and feel their tension on your hands.

You also need to use instruments such as GPS, AIS, radar, autopilot, etc. to see where you are, where other boats are, where obstacles are, etc. 

You also need to use instruments such as a speedometer, tachometer, anemometer, etc. to see how fast you are going, how fast your engine is running, how fast the wind is blowing, etc.

You should steer actively using small and smooth movements of the helm or tiller to keep your boat on course and speed. 

You should avoid steering aggressively using large or jerky movements of the helm or tiller that may cause your boat to lose control or speed.

Choose Your Storm Tactic

The fourth thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to choose your storm tactic. This will help you cope with the wind and wave conditions and reduce the risk of damage or injury. 

You need to choose a storm tactic that suits your boat type, your crew’s ability, and your situation. You also need to have the right equipment and skills to execute your storm tactic.

There are different storm tactics that you can use, such as:

Forereaching

This is when you sail close-hauled with reduced sail area and maintain a slow but steady speed into the wind and waves. This tactic is good for short-duration storms or when you need to stay close to your position. It is also good for boats that have good upwind performance and can handle steep waves. The advantages of this tactic are:

• It keeps the boat stable and balanced
• It reduces the impact of breaking waves
• It allows you to change course or tack if needed

The disadvantages of this tactic are:

• It can be tiring and uncomfortable for the crew
• It can cause excessive leeway and drift
• It can expose the boat to wind shifts or gusts

Running off

This is when you sail downwind with reduced sail area and let the wind and waves push you away from the storm center. This tactic is good for long-duration storms or when you have enough sea room to run. It is also good for boats that have good downwind performance and can handle following seas. The advantages of this tactic are:

• It keeps the boat fast and agile
• It reduces the apparent wind speed and noise
• It allows you to outrun the storm or reach a safe haven
• It can be risky and challenging for the crew
• It can cause broaching or surfing
• It can expose the boat to breaking waves or rogue waves

This is when you stop the boat by setting the sails and rudder in opposite directions and creating a slick of turbulent water that acts as a brake. This tactic is good for extreme storms or when you need to rest or wait. It is also good for boats that have a balanced sail plan and a deep keel. The advantages of this tactic are:

• It keeps the boat calm and steady
• It reduces the stress and fatigue of the crew
• It allows you to conserve fuel and water
• It can be difficult and dangerous to set up or resume sailing
• It can cause drifting or leeway

Lying ahull

This is when you drop all sails and let the boat drift freely with no steerage. This tactic is good for last-resort situations or when you have no other option. It is also good for boats that have a strong hull and a low profile. The advantages of this tactic are:

• It keeps the boat simple and passive
• It requires no effort or skill from the crew
• It allows you to abandon ship if needed
• It keeps the boat vulnerable and unpredictable
• It increases the risk of damage or injury
• It offers no control or direction

Survive the Storm

The fifth and final thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to survive the storm. This means that you need to do whatever it takes to keep yourself, your crew, and your boat alive and intact until the storm passes. You need to monitor the situation constantly and be ready to adapt or change your plan if necessary. You also need to communicate with your crew and other boats or shore stations and seek help if needed.

Here are some tips to help you survive the storm:

Stay calm and positive

The most important thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to stay calm and positive. Panic and despair will only make things worse and cloud your judgment. 

You need to trust your boat, your crew, and yourself and believe that you can make it through the storm. You also need to encourage and support your crew and keep their morale high. 

You can use humor, music, games, or stories to lighten the mood and distract from the stress.

Stay alert and aware

The second most important thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to stay alert and aware. Complacency and negligence will only increase the danger and reduce your chances of survival. 

You need to watch the wind, the waves, the clouds, and the horizon for any signs of change or improvement. You also need to check your boat, your gear, your instruments, and your crew for any signs of damage or injury. 

You also need to listen to weather updates, distress calls, or safety messages on your radio or phone.

Stay safe and secure

The third most important thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to stay safe and secure. Injury and damage will only worsen the situation and compromise your recovery. 

You need to wear your life jacket, your harness, and your helmet at all times and clip yourself to a strong point on the boat. You also need to secure all loose items on deck or below and close all hatches and ports. 

You also need to avoid going overboard, getting hit by flying objects, or falling down.

Stay warm and dry

The fourth most important thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to stay warm and dry. Hypothermia and dehydration will only weaken your body and mind and impair your performance. 

You need to wear waterproof and breathable clothing that can protect you from the wind, rain, spray, and cold. You also need to drink plenty of water or electrolyte drinks that can replenish your hydration and electrolyte levels. 

Stay fed and rested

The fifth most important thing you need to do when sailing in a storm is to stay fed and rested. Hunger and fatigue will only lower your energy and health and affect your decision-making and problem-solving. 

You need to eat balanced meals that provide enough calories and nutrients to sustain your energy and health. You also need to sleep at least eight hours before leaving port and take naps whenever possible while at sea. 

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions about sailing in a storm:

To sail through the storm means to overcome a difficult or challenging situation with courage and resilience. It can also mean enduring or surviving a storm at sea.

Ships survive storms by following some of the same principles as sailboats: reducing speed, balancing weight, steering into or away from the wind and waves, using stabilizers or ballast tanks, and seeking shelter or open water as needed.

Yes, you should lower sails in a storm, or at least reduce sail area by reefing or switching to storm sails. This will help you control your boat better and prevent damage from high winds.

Sailing ships do different things in a storm depending on their size, type, design, crew, equipment, and situation. Some of the common things they do are: reefing sails, switching to storm sails, running before the storm, heaving-to, lying ahull, forereaching, etc.

You steer a ship in a storm by using your rudder and sails (or engine) to adjust your course and speed according to the wind and wave direction. You should try to avoid sailing on a reach across tall breaking waves, as they can roll your ship over. You should also try to sail away from the storm’s path, especially its dangerous semicircle.

Sailing in a storm is one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences that a sailor can have. It requires a lot of preparation and skill to sail safely through a storm and survive its fury. It also requires a lot of courage and resilience to face the storm and overcome its fear.

By following the steps outlined in this article, you can increase your chances of sailing in a storm successfully and enjoy its thrill. You can also learn valuable lessons and gain confidence from sailing in a storm that will make you a better sailor.

Remember, the best way to deal with a storm is to avoid it if possible, prepare for it if inevitable, and survive it if necessary.

Happy sailing! ⛵️🌊⚡️🌬️🌈

Saiful Emon is the founder and editor of Sun Sea Skis , a sailing blog for adventure seekers. He loves sailing, traveling, and sharing his experiences with others. He also writes about fitness, wellness, business, and marketing in his spare time!

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How to Sail through a Storm: Waves, Sails, Tactics

On the open ocean and in the middle of a storm is when your will, strength, and endurance are tested to their bitter limits. The natural elements from the huge swells to the gusty winds are just a few things you have to worry about. There will also be exhausted crew members and passengers. Her some tips to sail through a storm!

Finding yourself sailing in big waves is when you make sure your best steereris at the helm.  Big waves in a storm will test the most experienced sailor.

Try not to sail on a reach across big breaking waves as they can cause a boat to roll.  Always keep your speed up to aid steering and try to move toward flat spots.  To minimize the risk of a wave washing across the deck only turn the sail in thesmooth water.

Should folding of the sail not reduce enough speed, you should use the trysail and storm jib (storm sails).  Storm sails are small, but the sails are perfectly proportioned for high winds.  Newer boats have the trysail attached to the boom, with the storm jib set forward of the mast – this keeps the boat balanced.

When facing a storm, there are two possible scenarios – avoid it or head for more space in the open ocean.  Storms these days hardly ever arrive unexpectedly due to technological advances and satellite tracked weather patterns.  There is a clear danger in being caught up by the storm should you decide to avoid it.  And with less maneuvering space, there is a chance of being blown on shore the closer you find yourself to land.  The rule of thumb is to stay away from land and to sail away from the storm – looking for a clear path.

There are numerous storm tactics to choose from, and all with the same purpose.  Tactics aim to lessen the strain and fight it takes to get one of the boat’s ends to point towards the waves.  There is no one storm tactic that works for all boats in every storm.

Sailing with storm sails is one option as the sails provide enough power to allow you to steer and gain control in the waves.  You can also try to steer the boat ahead of the storm towards the waves.  However, you will need a lot of space and constantly steer into the waves.

Another tactic is to lie ahull.  This entails you to fold down all the sails and lie and wait it out.  It is a less reliable tactic but one that does not require a lot of work or strain.  Your main concern is losing control of the boat and ending up with the side of the boat facing the waves.

Ultimately, the best tactic or way to sail through a storm is to avoid it entirely…  Storms are cold, wet, miserable, and highly dangerous out at sea.  It is a truly unforgettable experience but does not confuse a sense of adventure out on the seas with a dangerous situation.  Never comprise the safety of your crew, passengers, and yourself.

1936. Voyage around Cape Horn by schooner Wanderbird

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Hi.. i had to endure a 3 day cyclone of new caledoni in a 25 foot wooden boat….it was hell….i tried sea anchor off the bow…no good.. i would have lost my rudder… i hove too…. i could see i would get rolled… i then tried bernard moitesieur (joshua) method… running before….with drogues…. it was the answer…. bare boat… no sails. It slowed me down…i had stearage… and was a lot more comfortable… it took alot of concentration……you hsd to keep the stern dead square to oncoming huge seas… we did surfed…. luckily i had sea room….. how i survived…. only my FATHER in heaven knows… quit a few boats went missing…..

I certainly wouldn’t have my crew sitting along the rail like a load of Hooray Henry’s racing around the buoys! All but the helmsman and one other on deck, the rest below avoiding hypothermia and being washed overboard. The skipper in that photo was obviously an amateur.

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Heavy Weather Sailing

Best Sailing Tactics for High Winds and Waves

Many sailors both beginning and experienced fear storms as the greatest danger on the water, even though more emergencies and fatalities occur during times of relative calm. Nonetheless, strong winds and high waves can wreak havoc on a sailboat and any sailor who might be caught by even a summer thunderstorm, or a longer-lasting and greater storm offshore, should know how to stay safe in heavy weather.

Storm Sailing Tactics

It's often said that boats are stronger than people, meaning your first priority is to protect yourself. Be sure to have and use the right safety gear, such as PFDs and harnesses or tethers to keep you on the boat. The boat's motion will be more severe in storm conditions and taking action early will prevent injury and prevent seasickness that can further endanger your safety. Consider the following issues and strategies for keeping the boat under control in storm conditions.

Avoiding Shallows

When the heavy weather begins or threatens, the first impulse is often to drop the sails, start up the motor and head for land. If you can safely reach a harbor and return to a dock or mooring, this may be your safest option. Be aware that wind and waves can rapidly turn shallow areas or narrow channels into a more dangerous place than open water, especially if the storm will be short-lived and it's mostly a matter of waiting it out.

Waves become steeper and more likely to break in shallow areas, making it difficult to control the boat. Consider the risks if your engine were to die and the wind rapidly blow you onto the rocks or other obstructions. If the wind is blowing toward shore, it can also be risky to attempt to anchor, because the boat may go aground if the anchor drags. It is difficult and sometimes dangerous to try to reset an anchor in storm conditions. You may have better options staying in open water and riding out the storm using the tactics described below.

As soon as the wind begins or is anticipated to increase, it's time to reef the sails. The old saying is that if you are wondering whether you should reef, then it's already past time to do so. You don't want a lot of sail up when a strong gust hits, potentially leading to capsize. It's also much easier to reef the mainsail or furl the jib while the wind is still manageable, and it can be dangerous to have to leave the cockpit to reef the main or drop the jib once the boat is being tossed or strongly heeled over by the wind.

Remember that if you are sailing downwind when the wind increases, you feel its effects less and can be shocked to see how hard it's blowing when you turn up into the wind to reef. Always pay attention and reef early. Monitor changes in the wind so that you can reef early when it's easy, rather than late, when it's difficult or dangerous. You can learn to read the wind or use an inexpensive handheld wind meter.

The following storm tactics are more applicable when offshore or nearshore and expecting the storm to last for some time.

Storm Sails

Offshore voyagers typically carry special sails for use in high winds. Regular sails can be reefed or furled only so far and still maintain an efficient shape and the fabric of regular sails is generally too light for high winds. A storm jib used with or without a trysail replacing the main generally allows one to continue sailing in stronger winds, usually on a course that minimizes the effects of waves.

Racing sailors, for example, usually have a selection of sails and may prefer to keep going rather than wait out the storm with a different tactic that would essentially stop the boat's progress. Many coastal and recreational sailors do not carry these extra sails, however, and prefer a different strategy, like heaving to.

Lying Ahull

Lying ahull simply means dropping the sails and letting the boat fare for itself, possibly while you go below to seek shelter. This strategy may work in limited situations when the waves are not too big, the boat is far enough from land and shipping channels so that it doesn't matter how far the boat drifts downwind. In some cases, it may be necessary to lie ahull to attend to an injury or simply because one is too exhausted to continue active strategies.

If the waves are large and breaking, however, there is a significant risk of the boat being rolled and capsizing because it will tend to lie broadside to the waves. Never attempt this in an open boat that would rapidly fill with water and sink; a larger boat with a closed cabin should bob back up. Still, this is seldom the preferable approach to take in a serious storm.

Using a Sea Anchor

Offshore voyagers are more likely to have invested in a sea anchor, which is like a parachute deployed underwater to keep the bow pointed into the wind and waves. Breaking waves causes less damage to the bow than from any other angle and the boat is less likely to capsize or roll when facing large waves. A sea anchor can be expensive, however, and takes time and skill to deploy. This is a strategy used for a serious storm that will last for some time, not a passing squall or thunderstorm.

Heaving to is a time-honored storm tactic preferred by many sailors. The boat is turned close to the wind, the jib (partly furled or smaller jib hoisted) is backwinded, the helm is locked into position and the boat slowly jogs along without turning broadside to the waves, as when lying ahull. This is a valuable skill for all sailors and it's a good idea to practice it in your own boat to know how best to accomplish it when needed.

An advantage of heaving to is that you don't have to stay at the helm but can go below, if it is safe to do so, or duck beneath the dodger. The boat remains pointed close enough to the wind that it is less likely to be rolled by a breaking wave. In addition, the downwind sliding motion of the hull produces a slick in the water that makes it less likely for a wave to break on the boat.

Heaving to using a sea anchor is one of the best conservative storm tactics. The anchor is adjusted off to one side to help the bow point closer to the wind than when heaving to without a sea anchor, but the boat still drifts back slightly to make a slick. World-traveling Lin and Larry Pardey's video "Storm Tactics" and the book "Storm Tactics Handbook" argues persuasively for this technique and illustrates how it is accomplished.

Running Off

The final heavy weather tactic, used by some accomplished sailors, is to run off downwind. Reduce sail as needed and in the true storm-force wind you can continue sailing downwind "under bare poles" with no sail at all. As the wind increases, the greatest danger is going too fast, even without the sail, in which case the boat may come down a large wave and bury the bow in the back of the wave in front. This may cause the boat to pitchpole end over end or otherwise capsize. To slow the boat, sailors historically trailed long, heavy lines off the stern and modern sailors can use a special drogue for that purpose.

While some sailors swear by running off, this tactic requires constant skillful steering. If the stern is not kept perpendicular to approaching waves, a wave can push the stern around to one side, causing a broach and likely capsize.

Other Resources

These brief descriptions serve only to introduce tactics for heavy weather sailing. Any boat owner who may ever be in a high winds situation, however, should be prepared to take appropriate action. At the minimum, it is important to be familiar with reefing and heaving to. Consider a good book on seamanship, such as " Chapman's Piloting & Seamanship " or " The Annapolis Book of Seamanship ".

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The Storm Navigation Techniques

Navigating through storms while sailing can be unpredictable and dangerous, but with the right knowledge, skills, and preparation, you can safely navigate your way through them. This article discusses various storm navigation techniques and how to prepare for them, ensuring sailors stay safe and confident.

Sailing the open seas is an exhilarating and rewarding experience, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the most significant challenges that sailors face is navigating through storms. Storms can be unpredictable and dangerous, but with the right knowledge, skills, and preparation, you can safely navigate your way through them.

In this article, we will discuss various storm navigation techniques and how to prepare for them. We will cover everything from understanding weather patterns to the essential equipment you need on board. So, whether you’re a seasoned sailor or just starting your sailing adventure, this comprehensive guide will help you stay safe and confident during stormy weather.

Understanding Weather Patterns

Before we dive into specific storm navigation techniques, it’s essential to have a basic understanding of weather patterns and how they can affect your sailing journey. By understanding the weather, you can better predict when a storm might be approaching and take the necessary precautions.

High and Low-Pressure Systems

High-pressure systems are generally associated with fair weather, while low-pressure systems are associated with stormy weather. When a low-pressure system approaches, the barometric pressure will drop, and you may notice an increase in cloud cover and wind speed. Keep an eye on your barometer and the sky to help predict when a storm might be approaching.

A front is a boundary between two air masses with different temperatures and humidity levels. When a cold front (colder air mass) overtakes a warm front (warmer air mass), it can cause a sudden drop in temperature, increased wind speeds, and heavy precipitation. These conditions can quickly escalate into a storm, so it’s essential to be aware of any fronts in your area.

Weather Forecasting

In addition to understanding weather patterns, it’s crucial to stay up-to-date with the latest weather forecasts. Many resources are available, such as VHF radio broadcasts, satellite phones, and internet access (when in range). Make sure to check the weather regularly and adjust your plans accordingly.

Storm Tactics and Techniques

Now that we have a basic understanding of weather patterns let’s discuss specific storm navigation techniques. These tactics will help you stay safe and in control during a storm.

Heaving-to is a storm tactic that involves slowing the boat down and positioning it at a specific angle to the wind and waves. This technique allows the boat to maintain a relatively stable position, reducing the risk of damage and making it easier for the crew to rest and regroup.

To heave-to, follow these steps:

• Reduce sail area by reefing or furling the sails.
• Turn the boat into the wind until the sails begin to luff (flutter).
• Tack the boat without releasing the jib sheet (the line that controls the jib sail).
• Adjust the rudder to keep the boat at a 45-60 degree angle to the wind and waves.

Running Off

Running off is another storm tactic that involves sailing downwind, away from the storm. This technique can help you avoid the worst of the storm and reduce the risk of damage to your boat.

To run off, follow these steps:

• Set a course that takes you downwind, away from the storm.
• Monitor the wind and wave conditions and adjust your course as needed to maintain a safe and comfortable ride.

Lying Ahull

Lying ahull is a storm tactic that involves stopping the boat and allowing it to drift with the wind and waves. This technique can be useful in extreme conditions when other tactics are not feasible.

To lie ahull, follow these steps:

• Secure all loose items on deck and below.
• Lock the rudder in a neutral position.
• Monitor the boat’s position and drift to ensure you don’t drift into any hazards.

Storm Preparation

In addition to knowing various storm navigation techniques, it’s essential to be prepared for storms before they happen. Here are some tips to help you prepare for stormy weather:

Inspect and Maintain Your Boat

Regularly inspect your boat for any signs of wear or damage, and address any issues promptly. Ensure that all equipment is in good working order, including sails, rigging, and safety gear.

Carry Essential Safety Equipment

Make sure you have the necessary safety equipment on board, such as life jackets, harnesses, and tethers. Additionally, consider carrying a drogue (a device that helps slow the boat down in heavy seas) and a sea anchor (a parachute-like device that helps stabilize the boat in rough conditions).

Practice Storm Tactics

Practice makes perfect, so take the time to practice various storm navigation techniques in controlled conditions. This will help you become more comfortable and confident in your abilities when faced with a real storm.

Develop a Storm Plan

Create a storm plan that outlines the steps you will take when faced with a storm. This plan should include the storm tactics you will use, the roles and responsibilities of each crew member, and any necessary safety precautions.

Storm navigation is an essential skill for any sailor, and with the right knowledge, preparation, and practice, you can safely navigate your way through even the most challenging conditions. By understanding weather patterns, mastering storm tactics, and being prepared for the unexpected, you can continue to enjoy the freedom and fulfillment that comes from sailing the open seas with your family.

Remember, the key to successful storm navigation is staying informed, being prepared, and remaining calm and focused during the storm. With these skills in your arsenal, you’ll be well-equipped to face whatever Mother Nature throws your way.

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Heavy weather sailing: How to reduce sail in a storm

• Theo Stocker
• May 26, 2023

It’s one thing dealing with heavy weather sailing offshore, but what should coastal sailors do when they need to shorten sail in a blow? Martin Thomas explains, and Theo Stocker puts it to the test

Knowing the theory behind how to reduce sail in a storm is one thing, but does that theory work id you do get caught out? We took to the Solent on 40 knot winds to find out if the usual advice was easy to put into practise while a sea in inclement weather.

This is the second on a new Yachting Monthly series with the first part covering how to prepare your boat for a storm . We thought it was worth drawing on the combined knowledge of the seasoned sailors who have contributed to the latest edition of Adland Coles’ bible on the subject of windy weather, Heavy Weather Sailing , examining what should be done in heavy weather in coastal water, and then trying it out to see what works in practice.

Yachting Monthly editor Theo Stocker volunteered for this enviable duty, which he insists was actually great fun, and having watched the weather forecast all winter, managed to line up yachts, RIBs, crew and photographers with a Force 8 gale in order to go and play in the rough stuff.

For this endeavour Theo wanted a sturdy yacht that would be up to taking on extreme weather easily. And for that, you hardly need look further than the ever-faithful Contessa 32 . Assent was formerly owned by Willy Ker and is now owned by the Rogers family and skippered on the day by Kit Rogers, second-generation builder of Contessa 32s, among other things, at Jeremy Rogers Ltd in Lymington.

Genoas will wrinkle and bag when reefed due to the belly cut into the sail. A new, well-cut sail will be better behaved. Photo: Richard Langdon

Reducing sail in a storm

The first action to take as the wind rises is to shorten sail. Reef early and start by reefing the main, especially if you are still trying to make to windward. For most coastal and cruising sailors, standard reefing points are sufficient, although many new sails will have just two rows of reefing points, with a corresponding paucity of deck hardware.

It is sensible to specify a third reef as standard, and to find ways to handle the additional controls. If worse weather is anticipated then ask a sailmaker to put in a deep reef, usually a fourth reef. Be sure that the deep reef luff cringle will reach the staghorn, using a pair of ‘spectacles’ (two rings secured by a webbing strap through the cringle) if necessary. Some racing organisations such as RORC insist that boats carry a trysail, but for cruisers, in my view, this is not necessary. A trysail is a difficult sail for a short-handed crew to rig, especially in the conditions when it might be needed.

Article continues below…

A partly furled Genoa becomes baggy and performs poorly when the boat is close- hauled. If you plan to make longer voyages, when encountering rough weather is more likely, then fit a removable inner forestay before you set out. This can hang quietly attached to the toe rail or chain plate until needed. Then as the storm approaches, it can be deployed with a ratchet, wheel or lever to tighten the wire and a reduced headsail hanked on.

Having been under load, the genoa needed extra turns round the foil to furl away fully. Photo: Richard Langdon

Such a headsail will set kindly in strong conditions even when hauled to the wind. Be sure to have a suitable lead for the sheets as the blocks for the furling Genoa may not be in the right place.

Carry a storm jib of heavier canvas, although for most sailors the storm jib will be flown rarely, if ever. With a fully reefed main and a Number 3 jib or storm jib set on an inner forestay, most cruisers can survive quite severe weather for long enough to reach shelter.

It would be worth consulting a rigger or surveyor before fitting such an arrangement to agree the best means of doing so, and that both rig and deck attachment points will be strong enough to support the loads.

We lashed the reef clew down to keep it close to the boom. Photo: Richard Langdon

Our experience of reducing sail in a storm

Willy Ker said of Assent that ‘You can stick more or less anything with three reefs and the jib rolled well in. If it gets really nasty, I roll the headsail away. I don’t think I’ve ever set a storm jib.’ So setting a storm jib and trysail may have been overly cautious, but it was a good exercise.

For most of our time on the water, we had the deep third reef tucked in the main. A handkerchief compared to the full main, it set flat with good tension, and supported the boom at a sensible height. We did have to re-lead the first reef line as the third, as it gets used so rarely. Doing anything with the boom in heavy weather is best avoided, so if you can keep the third reef rigged, it is makes life easier

Deck work upwind is a damp and precarious experience. Photo: Richard Langdon

Genoa furling

We began with a scrap of the furling genoa. Assent was fitted with a fairly new and very nice set of Kevlar-reinforced dacron cruising sails from Sanders which hold their shape extremely well, and I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Genoa set even when heavily furled, compared to the wrinkled bag I was left with on my own Sadler 29’s stretchy genoa, that served only to induce heel and pull the bow off the wind.

The thing that caught us out was that, despite having been used as it was for over two year without issue, when using the roller-furling to reef the Genoa in a blow, the force of the wind pulled the turns of sail much tighter around the foil, exacerbated by any stretch in the furling line. Once we’d reached the end of the furling line, we still needed three or four more turns to get the sail away. The only way to achieve this was unreeving the sheets and passing them around the forestay, after which we had sufficient turns – not a fun job in heavy weather.

Getting a good sheeting angle is critical. Two sheet cars meant we could keep both sheets rigged. Photo: Richard Langdon

Rigging the storm jib

Hanking on the storm jib was fairly straightforward, and made easier with two people on deck. There was a little bit of guess work as to which way to lead the sheets around the shrouds and whether the forward genoa car would be suitable. As the storm jib was very high-clewed, it actually worked well with the car position, and it was best to keep the sheets outside the shrouds, even when close hauled, as we were sailing a fairly free angle. Re-leading the sheets and moving the genoa car, as we needed to for the genoa when heavily furled, required putting someone on deck, and tacking to free off the leeward side.

It is worth knowing which way to lead sheets before you have to do it for real to minimise time on deck. It isn’t always obvious if you haven’t tried it beforehand.

The trysail is a faff to rig, but a brilliant sail once set. Photo: Richard Langdon

Possibly the least used sail in any boat’s wardrobe, and for good reason. If you need to use the main mast track, getting the main sliders out and trysail sliders in was a pig of a job. The mainsail needed lashing down first, then it was a two-person job to wrestle the sliders free, with clevis pins and split rings that in these conditions were fiddly and potentially easy to lose, yet critical to the functioning of the system.

We led the sheets to the secondary winches via the spinnaker blocks on the quarters, which worked well, though they did cross the cockpit to do so.

If you can avoid this palaver, I would. You would be better to run under storm jib alone, or bare poles, though you will then be restricted to sailing across or downwind. It might be possible to rig a trysail on a wire aft of the mast, or with parrel beads around the mast as an easier method.

Despite all of this, I am a fan of the trysail. It is a brilliant sail once set – we were amazed at how well the boat sailed upwind with it. We clocked over 6 knots in 35-40 knots of wind on a fetch, and could point pretty high upwind. The helm remained balanced, heel was manageable and the boat felt under control. This is basically the only option if you need to make way upwind in extreme conditions, and anecdotes suggest this is one of the safest courses to steer. This may be more important for coastal than offshore sailors, given the potential need to sail upwind away from a lee shore when there isn’t searoom.

A dedicated trysail track would be invaluable if you carry a trysail. Without a track, the effort to rig it, and the risk of people spending a protracted period on deck, may put you off doing so. The sail will increase your options if you’re in a squeeze.

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Sail Far Live Free

Heavy weather tactics: 5 options for sailing through a storm.

• Do you have enough sea room to allow the boat to crab slowly to leeward? The answer will obviously vary depending on your distance shore, the direction of the wind/current, and the longevity of the storm conditions. Remember, heaving-to is a passive tactic, so you’ve got to be o.k. with letting the boat do its thing while you hunker down in the cabin.
• Are your sails and rigging up to the task? As with many storm tactics, your sails and rigging will be subjected to high loads and chafe. Is your boat equipped with storm sails that can handle strong winds and potential flogging? Our boat's sails wouldn't be up to the task of remaining hove-to for hours on end, but I'm confident that I could ride out a short summer squall. 
• How well does your particular boat heave-to and will it remain hove-to without putting your beam to the seas? Large swells and breaking waves can be trouble for a boat that doesn’t like to heave-to.
• Do you have sea room to run off? That is, is there land, shallow water or other dangers downwind of your position that make this tactic unadvisable? Furthermore, will running off simply serve to keep you in the path of the storm longer than an alternative tactic? 
• Can you maintain steering with the wind and waves on your stern quarters or directly abaft?
• Do you need to deploy a drogue or warps to slow your forward speed in order to maintain control and keep from being overpowered by the waves?
• Are you up for the physically exhausting challenge of manually steering your ship for potentially hours or days on end? 

• Sailing a Serious Ocean by John Kretschmer
• The Voyager's Handbook by Beth Leonard
• Heavy Weather Sailing by Peter Bruce
• Storm Tactics Handbook by Lin and Larry Pardey
• Bluewater Handbook by Steve Dashew
• Heavy Weather Sailing Tips - An interview with Allen Breckall on The Sailing Podcast
• Mahina Expeditions - Learn from longtime cruisers and offshore sailors John and Amanda Neal
• YaYa Blues  - Join John Kretschmer for a workshop or participate as crew on an expedition

Lots of great advice and references in there, thanks for all the helpful tips! We were caught in an unexpected gale in the Gulf Stream this year with winds sustained out of the north averaging 45 knots for a good 90 minutes. We were running off under bare poles until the winds subsided to the mid 30's, but it worked out well for us.

Thanks Jessica. That's exactly the kind of real world experience I was hoping folks would share in the comments.

We were in a big storm in Stewart Island - New Zealand - getting blown on to a lee shore. We tried to start the motor to help us crab to windward, but in one knock down the motor must have got a big gulp of air instead of diesel. Anyway it meant that the motor cut out. So if you do try and use your motor to assist, make sure you have got a full tank of fuel.

Concerning lying a-hull, it's interesting to read Alan Villiers's account of using this tactic with the Mayflower-II during her crossing in 1957. He wrote "we had no idea what would happen,as no one had attempted this in a ship of this type in over 200 years..." He went on to note that with the sails down, and the rudder lashed to leeward, she pointed up nicely and "lay as a duck on a pond with her head tucked under her wing." (I'm paraphrasing here, since I can't find my copy of Men Ships and the Sea at the moment...) Its' worth noting that ships of that type, with their huge, boxy top-sides had substantially different windage characteristics than our sleek modern designs. From what I've been able to glean, lying a-hull in a square-rigged galleon 300 years ago probably wasn't a terribly different proposition than heaving to under a back-winded jib today.

I should have added that as I understand it at least, it was a maneuver designed to keep the waves on your stern quarter. Same principles, just facing a different direction? I'm gonna have to find my copy of that darn book now, as I'm confusing myself and sounding like an idiot.

Thanks for your wonderful and so helpful tips. We also would like to invite you to our Sailing Community - Clubtray Sailing Clubtray Sailing where members could be more helpful by your great advices and references. Hope to read more kind of real world experiences from you soon.

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How To Help Your Boat Survive A Major Storm

Hurricane Gloria was a most impolite lady. She barreled up the Atlantic coast, scaring the heck out of people from Florida to Massachusetts. Despite the fact that the storm didn’t live up to its billing, hundreds of boats in New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Massachusetts were destroyed or severely damaged. In some cases, the boats were lost through no fault of the owner. No amount of preparation will save your boat if another boat drags down on it in the middle of a hurricane.

In other cases, however, lack of proper preparation was a major cause of a damaged boat. There’s no excuse for that type of loss.

Despite the fact that modern forecasting methods are far from perfect, a large storm such as Gloria almost always is tracked with enough precision to let you know if you’re potentially in the path of destruction. With a day or more of warning, you have plenty of time to take the precautions necessary to give your boat the best chance to survive a major storm.

When the load exerted on a boat’s ground tackle-whether a mooring or her own anchors-exceeds the holding power of the ground tackle, the boat will drag. One of the primary contributors to that load is the windage of the boat.

If your boat hung perfectly head to wind, the windage loading would be fairly small, consisting of the frontal area of the hull, deck structures, spars, and rigging in the case of a sailboat, and the hull, deck structures, bridge, and antennas of a powerboat. Unfortunately, few boats lie perfectly head to wind through a storm. Instead, they yaw about from side to side. As the boat sails around on her anchors or mooring, the total area presented to the wind, and hence the total loading on the ground tackle, varies dramatically. The area presented by any boat broadside to the wind is several times that presented by the same boat when it is perfectly head to wind. Since the change in wind loading is a function of the square of the wind velocity, the strain on your ground tackle increases geometrically as the boat yaws around. Reducing windage will help reduce the total loading, and hence help your boat stay put.

You can substantially reduce the windage of any boat with only a few hours of work. First, remove Bimini tops, cockpit dodgers, spray curtains around cockpits, and awnings. Those are pretty obvious. The rest may not be.

Sails should be removed, particularly roller furling headsails. You don’t just have to worry about the windage of the rolled-up sails, you have to worry about what will happen when the sail unfurls. And we practically guarantee it will, no matter how well tied it may be. Mainsails should be removed for the same reason. If the sail is so big that you can’t handle it yourself, and you have no one to help, add extra sail ties, and thoroughly and tightly lash down the sail cover. The normal securing system of the sail cover, and the normal amount of sail ties used, is not adequate to hold the sail in place during a major storm. If the sail gets loose, it will at least flog itself to death. At worst, it will add enough windage to make your boat drag its ground tackle.

Take off man overboard gear, cockpit cushions, cowl vents, antennas, and halyards, if the halyards can be rerove easily. Internal halyards can be run to the masthead, leaving a single halyard led to deck to allow you to retrieve the others after the storm. No matter how well you tie them off, halyards will flog hell out of your spars, in addition to being more windage. Likewise, masthead instrumentation may simply blow away, particularly your anemometer cups.

Get it Off the Boat

It’s a good idea to take everything that isn’t bolted down off the boat entirely. If a boat does go ashore, it’s a sad but true fact that vandals may make short work of her. Electronics, clocks, barometers, books, navigation gear may all vanish. If you value it, take if off the boat. Chances are that no insurance policy will cover you completely enough to make up for the loss of valuable gear.

Know Your Ground Tackle

Is your mooring really a 1000 pound mushroom with 3/4 ” chain? It may be worth hiring a diver to find out, preferably before a storm threatens. Likewise, all shackles, chains, and mooring pennants should be examined at least once a season to make sure they are in good shape. If the condition of any component of the system is questionable, replace it. If your insurance adjuster sees a corroded through piece of chain or a mooring pennant that is badly worn, he may well be reluctant to approve your claim in case of loss.

In crowded harbors, permanent moorings may lack adequate scope to deal with the high tides associated with storm conditions. It may be possible to increase scope for a storm by replacing or lengthening the mooring pennant. Just as with an anchor, the holding power of a permanent mooring is increased by additional scope.

Some moorings are equipped with large, inflatable surface buoys. The positive flotation of these buoys may reduce the holding power of the mooring in extreme high tides, so it may be worth removing the buoy before a storm; just don’t forget to replace it before casting off the mooring pennant after the storm is over.

At the Dock

As a rule, boats tied to docks are at greater risk than boats kept at moorings or on anchors. Floating docks are rarely strong enough to take the loads exerted on them by boats in storm conditions. In addition, if the tides are extremely high, floating docks may simply float off the pilings which hold them in place.

A boat kept at a dock can’t weathercock (face into the wind) as storm winds change direction. Therefore, the boat at a dock almost always presents more windage than a boat secured to moorings or anchors that is free to swing head to wind.

If your boat must be kept at a dock in a storm, secure the lines to the pilings, rather than to the floating docks. It is best to tie the lines high on the pilings, so they will not be chafed if the docks ride up on the pilings. Instead of using loose bowlines around the pilings, use multiple clove hitches, or a clove hitch finished with two half hitches. That way, the lines will tighten on the pilings, and are unlikely to pull off even if the pilings go under.

Anchored Out

If you have good ground tackle and a good mooring won’t have to worry about crashing into docks, or docks crashing into you. What you will have to worry about is other boats with less adequate ground tackle dragging down on you, either damaging your boat or straining your own ground tackle so much that your boat drags.

The first rule of thumb when anchored or moored during a severe storm is to get out as much ground tackle as possible. You may have a good permanent mooring, but if you back it up with your own anchors, you’re going to have an even better chance of survival.

Usually, it is possible to forecast the likely direction of the strongest winds, even with a hurricane whose exact path is unknown. A good rule of thumb is to deploy your heaviest anchor in the expected direction of the strongest winds, and your second anchor 180 ’ from that. You may want to put your primary anchor upwind of, and at a 45 ’ angle to, the mooring, so there will be less likelihood of chafe between your anchor rode and your mooring chain.

When putting out your anchors, get them as far from the boat as your rodes will allow, leaving yourself perhaps 25 ‘ of line on deck to make adjustments after the anchors are down. The more scope you have out on the anchors, the better they will hold. All anchors hold best when the pull on them is perfectly horizontal. You may increase the holding power of an anchor by 25 % by increasing the scope from 5:1 to 1O:1.

Remember that your biggest anchor does not necessarily have the most holding power in a particular bottom. If you’re anchored in soft mud, a Danforth will have much more holding power than a kedge anchor of the same weight.

Line chafe has probably caused the loss of more boats than any other single factor. Whether you’re moored out or at the dock, your lines must be protected from chafe.

No matter how well polished your bow chocks are, they’re still metal, and are harder than your lines. In a storm lasting several hours, even the smoothest metal fittings will start to wear away your lines. Chafing gear can be made from almost any sacrificial material. Canvas and leather are the traditional materials used, but “sticky dacron” sail repair cloth or even old towelling or T-shirts will do. Old denim blue jeans cut in strips make exceptionally good chafing gear.

Chafing gear won’t do any good if it won’t stay in place. The best chafing gear is undoubtedly leather sewn over the lines, but if you’re preparing for a storm, it’s too late to be elegant. Duct tape-plenty of it-will do in a pinch.

You can also tie the chafing gear on with light nylon, but it, too will chafe.

Chafing gear should cover more of the line than you think will come into contact with a chafing hazard, to allow for fine tuning the lines, to compensate for stretch, and to make up for the fact that the chafing gear may slip under load. In addition, if you are aboard your boat during a storm, you may want to ease out a foot of line now and then to shift the location of chafe slightly.

Whenever possible, key dock lines should be doubled. If one fails, you want a backup. The only danger here is that the deck can quickly become a rat’s nest. In addition, those elegant little cleats may suddenly be too small to take two 3/4” dock lines. It is absolutely impossible for a boat to have cleats that are too large, just as it’s impossible to have anchors that are too big. All it takes is one storm to convince you of that.

Whenever possible, lead heavily loaded lines to winches before belaying them on cleats. Winches are likely to have more fastenings, distributing their load over a larger area of deck. Distributing the loads between a winch and a cleat can be a tricky business. Normally, when using a winch you take three turns around it, so that almost all the load is carried by the winch. Using only one or two turns on the winch allows more load to be carried by the cleat.

Don’t carry a lot of heavily loaded lines to a single cleat. That’s like putting all your eggs in one basket. If the cleat goes, the boat goes. This is when multiple cleats on the bow pay off. You can lead each anchor or mooring line to a separate cleat, not only making it easier to adjust individual lines, but distributing loads better.

Through bolted cleats are designed to be loaded in sheer; that is, with the load parallel to the cleat and perpendicular to the fastenings. When the load becomes a tension load-vertical to the fastenings-you’re headed for trouble. Watch the leads of lines carefully to load hardware properly. Sometimes, a strong snatch block can be used to deflect loading to a better angle, or to reduce chafe. For storm-induced loads, don’t use a block to change a lead more than about 45 ‘. You’re likely to induce loads on the block or its point of attachment that it just can’t handle.

Lines may well pop out of open bow chocks as the boat pitches. It may be possible to lash lines into chocks by passing a light line under the bow or to adjacent hardware. Closed chocks work better, but once again you have to watch the direction of loading. Closed chocks are designed to be loaded downward, not upward. If you put a tension load on the chock’s fastenings, they may pull out of the deck.

Obviously, the strength of your deck hardware is extremely important, and the time to check it out is before there is a danger of storms. Proper backing plates, proper bolts, and strength of the deck and the fitting itself are critical. Winter is a good time to crawl around under the deck to check these things out. You’ll sleep a lot easier knowing just how hardware is attached.

Hauling Out

Usually, boatyards are overwhelmed with frantic calls from owners to haul their boats before a hurricane. Hauling may or may not be a good idea. Hauling a boat and leaving the mast in is an invitation to disaster. Hauling at a yard that is only a few feet above water level also may gain little. Putting the boat inside a shed that may blow down also gets you nothing.

By all means, if your boat is trailerable, get it out of the water. Tow it to high ground, but don’t park it under a tree!

On or Off the Boat?

If your boat is on an anchor or mooring, you may increase its chances of survival by staying on the boat. You may be able to fend off a boat dragging down, adjust a critical line, take the load off the ground tackle by running the engine. You also increase your chances of getting killed or injured. Boats are replaceable; people are not.

There is no easy answer to this one. Few things are more heartbreaking than watching another boat chafe through your anchor lines while you’re helpless on the shore. Few things are more terrifying than being aboard a boat that is dragging down to destruction on a granite seawall that towers over your head.

Should You Move Your Boat?

One of the most basic questions is whether your boat should be moved to another harbor. Most regions have protected anchorages known as hurricane holes. The only problem is that usually these are known to everyone, and may become so crowded when a major storm threatens that they become more dangerous than a more exposed anchorage.

Moving to a hurricane hole early is no guarantee of safety. You may get the best spot, but there’s no way to keep someone from anchoring right on top of you. If you think all boat owners are a generous and gentlemanly bunch, you haven’t seen them in time of stress when their boats are endangered.

You must realistically assess your chances for survival wherever you are. If strong southerlies are forecast in a harbor whose north end is a stone wall, you’d better think about moving elsewhere, or at least moving as close under the weather shore as is practical. Don’t forget to allow for changes in wind direction, however.

The wind itself is usually less of a problem than high tides and waves which reduce scope and increase chafe as the boat surges. If you’re behind a seawall which is only 5 ‘ above mean high water, a storm which comes at high tide is likely to submerge the breakwater, exposing you to the full force of wind and waves.

Use common sense. Try to imagine what will happen to docks, pilings, seawalls, and the other boats around you. What happens when the wind shifts? What if the docks come loose? Don’t move your boat until you have a coherent plan, and only if you can say with confidence that the place you have chosen is better than the place you are. An exposed location with a bottom that has good holding characteristics may be better than a protected location with lousy holding, if you have adequate ground tackle.

If you’ve done all you can to secure the boat-reducing windage, removing valuable gear, putting out extra lines, chafing gear, anchors-then you have done all that is reasonable to ask to prepare your boat to meet a storm in port. Get off the boat with a clear conscience, but try to stay as close as possible during the storm, as long as you don’t risk your life. If your boat does come ashore, you may be able to reduce damage or prevent vandalism if you’re close at hand. We have no sympathy for those who call the boatyard a few days after a storm to find out if their boat has survived.

One last thing to do is to take pictures of your preparations. If your insurance company questions the loss of your boat, it helps to have pictures of how you’ve prepared her. It may also help to prove a loss.

Mentally preparing for a storm in port is a lot like thinking about your emergency equipment. It may be unpleasant to think you’ll ever need it, but if you do, it’s nice to be familiar with how it works and what it can do. Careful preparation of your boat won’t guarantee its survival, but it will give it a far better chance.

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Video shows moments before superyacht went down in storm off Sicily

Newly released video captures a luxury superyacht being battered by a violent storm before it suddenly sank off Sicily with 22 people aboard Monday.

The grainy images obtained by NBC News and other outlets were recorded on closed-circuit television not far from where the Bayesian was anchored, about a half-mile from the port of Porticello, on Sicily’s northern coast .

The yacht's 250-foot mast, illuminated with lights and lashed by the storm, appears to bend to one side before it finally disappears and is replaced by darkness.

The speed with which a yacht built to handle the roughest seas capsized stunned maritime experts.  

“I can’t remember the last time I read about a vessel going down quickly like that, you know, completely capsizing and going down that quickly, a vessel of that nature, a yacht of that size,” said Stephen Richter of SAR Marine Consulting.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and five of the 22 other people who were aboard the 184-foot vessel remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped in the Bayesian’s hull, nearly 170 feet underwater.

Officials confirmed Monday that at least one person, the ship’s cook, had died.  

Superyachts like the Bayesian, which had been available for charters at a rate of $215,000 a week, are designed to stay afloat even as they are taking on water to give the people aboard a chance to escape, Richter said. 

“Boats of this size, they’re taking passengers on an excursion or a holiday,” Richter said. “They are not going to put them in situations where it may be dangerous or it may be uncomfortable, so this storm that popped up was obviously an anomaly. These vessels that carry passengers, they’re typically very well-maintained, very well-appointed.”

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered Bayesian could carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. Its nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters. 

On Tuesday, Italian rescue workers resumed the search for Lynch and the five other passengers still missing: Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

“The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel,” Salvatore Cocina, the head of civil protection in Sicily, told Reuters .

The Bayesian is owned by a firm linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who was one of the 15 people rescued Monday after it capsized.

“It’s extremely rare for a boat of this size to sink,” Richter said.

What’s not rare is the kind of storm that sank it , said Simon Boxall, senior lecturer in oceanography at Britain’s University of Southampton.

“People assume the Mediterranean is this rather calm and passive place that never gets storms and always blue skies,” Boxall said. “In fact, you get some quite horrendous storms that are not uncommon at this time of year.”

The president of Italy’s meteorological society has said Monday’s violent storm may have involved a waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, or a downburst, which occurs more frequently but doesn’t involve the rotation of the air.

Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorology Society, also said recent temperatures may have been a factor. 

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius [86 Fahrenheit], which is almost 3 degrees more than normal,” Mercalli told Reuters. “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

The Mediterranean sailing vacation was designed to be a celebration for Lynch, who two months ago was acquitted by a San Francisco jury of fraud charges stemming from the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

Prosecutors alleged that Lynch, dubbed “Britain’s Bill Gates,” and Autonomy’s vice president for finance, Stephen Chamberlain, had padded the firm’s finances ahead of the sale. Lynch’s lawyers argued that HP was so eager to acquire Autonomy that it failed to adequately check the books .

Lynch had taken Morvill, who was one of his defense attorneys, on the luxury trip. 

Chamberlain was not on the Bayesian.

In what appears to be a tragic coincidence, a car struck and killed Chamberlain on Saturday as he was jogging in a village about 68 miles north of London, local police said.

“Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family,” Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, said in a statement .

Henry Austin reported from London and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

Complete Guide to Storm Sails

Storm sails are popular safety measures that help you retain control of your boat in high winds. They also reduce the risk of knockdown.

In this article, we'll cover the most common types of storm sails and their uses. Additionally, we'll go over storm sail materials, cost, sizing, and tips from the sailing community. You'll also learn when (and how) to deploy storm sails at sea.

Storm sails are durable and compact sails designed for use in rough weather. They're smaller than regular mainsails and headsails. The most common kinds of storm sails are the trysail and the storm jib. Storm sails can be deployed alone or in pairs.

The information contained in this article was sourced from expert sailors and storm sail manufacturers. Additionally, we sourced technical specifications from reviewers and users of storm sails.

Table of contents

What are Storm Sails?

Storm sails are small and durable headsails and mainsails designed for use in rough weather. They are a fraction of the size of typical mainsails and headsails, and they attach to the vessel using a multi-point tie system.

Storm sails are almost always triangular regardless of what kind of vessel they're deployed on, which includes storm sails designed for gaff-rigged sailboats. This is because a three-pointed sail is durable and easy to deploy at the base of the mast. Three connection points are easier to deal with than four, and storm sails don't require the use of top spars.

Storm sails are typically bright orange in color to distinguish them from other canvas aboard the vessel. Additionally, high visibility material makes it easier to see the boat in dangerous conditions. This is especially useful in emergencies, and it helps avoid collisions with other vessels.

Storm sails are stronger than the rest of the sails aboard most vessels. They are designed to stand up against gale-force winds and heavy ocean spray. Most storm sails can be deployed rapidly without completely removing the mainsail or headsail.

How do Storm Sails Work?

The concept and function of a storm sail is simple. A storm sail is essentially just a reefed version of your headsail or mainsail. Storm sails provide propulsion in high winds, which is essential if you want to keep control of the boat.

Storm sails are useful because they are smaller than the smallest configuration of your typical sail setup. In other words, they give you a smaller sail plan than you could have achieved by reefing. During dangerous storm conditions, this could be the difference between a controllable boat and a knockdown.

Types of Storm Sails

Most vessels that carry storm sails have one for the forward sail plan and one for the after sail plan. This typically includes a trysail for replacing the mainsail and a storm jib for replacing the headsail. In some cases, vessels opt to carry only a single storm sail as an easy precautionary measure.

Vessels that only carry a single storm sail generally opt for a storm jib, as it can be easier and safer to rely on a headsail during foul weather conditions. Additionally, it frees up the mainsail for precise adjustments, as it's easier to reef and trim from the cockpit. The downside of carrying only a storm jib is that it requires someone to trek to the bow of the boat during hazardous conditions.

In addition to trysails and storm jibs, there are many sub-varieties of storm sails available today. Next, we'll cover a few of the most popular storm sail types and their intended uses.

Basic Storm Sails for Emergencies

Basic no-frills storm sails are available for typical cruising boats to use in emergencies. These simple, often brightly colored Dacron sails are easy to rig and compact for long-term storage. They are triangular and often flat, which makes them ideal for quick deployment.

They are the most affordable type of storm sail and often considered 'universal fit' for boats within a certain size range. In other words, you probably won't have to custom-order a basic storm sail setup for your production fiberglass cruising sloop.

Basic storm sails often come in a convenient and weatherproof storage box that's clearly marked for stowing with your other emergency gear. These are not the most efficient or durable storm sails available, but they're strong enough to improve your chances in a dangerous situation.

Racing Storm Sails

Storm sails have found a unique niche amongst some offshore racing sailors. Vessels that participate in offshore regattas in foul weather often rely on them to achieve high speeds. This is especially true in conditions that are too hazardous to deploy a standard sail plan.

There are not a whole lot of purpose-built storm sails for racing. However, many sailors who participated in ocean races choose higher-quality and more controllable storm sails. That said, ocean racers often choose storm sails with unique shapes and characteristics.

Racing storm sails are usually slightly larger than basic emergency storm sails. They often have a deeper reef and longer leech, which increases the size of the canvas and brings it closer to the deck. Additionally, these characteristics make the small sail more efficient and allow the vessel to reach higher speeds while retaining precise control.

Racing storm sails are often reinforced in key areas, which is done at the factory or after the fact by the owner. This is because they're more likely to be deployed more than once and left on extended periods. Sometimes, Racers opt to delete unreliable quick-rig features that are found on standard storm sails.

Custom Storm Sails

There are many reasons why a sailor might choose to have a custom storm sail produced. As far as cost is concerned, it's comparable to a typical custom sailmaking job. Custom storm sails can be made with unique dimensions to optimize their efficiency on a specific hull design.

Custom storm sails are sometimes produced with higher-quality materials than consumer models, which gives sailors additional peace of mind. In many cases, the unique design of some sailboats requires purpose-built storm sails.

Most sailmakers will produce storm sails upon request. However, you may have to provide additional specifications ahead of time. They can also reinforce consumer storm sails using high-quality material or make adjustments to provide a better fit for your boat.

What are Storm Sails Made Of?

Storm sails need to be strong and weather-resistant. Additionally, they need to survive long periods of storage in less-than-ideal conditions, such as in the bilge or under a deck hatch.

Modern sale materials such as Kevlar and laminates are strong, but they don't always perform well in long-term storage. As a result, storm sails are typically made with a thick sheet of good old Dacron.

Dacron is a popular type of polyester sail fabric that's found in all kinds of sailboats. The primary difference between a Dacron storm sails and run-of-the-mill sail fabric is color and thickness.

When to Use a Storm Sail

What sort of conditions warrant the use of a storm sail? This varies between boats, and also between captains and crews. But generally speaking, storm sails can be deployed in high-wind conditions when typical reefing and adjustments aren't enough.

The precise wind speed that causes you to deploy storm sail is impossible to predict without knowing your specific vessel's handling characteristics. However, storm sails are sometimes found in winds exceeding 30 or 40 knots.

If a knockdown is imminent, the best course of action is most likely maneuvering. It will be very difficult to rig a storm sail when the vessel is at extreme risk of being blown over. It's best to rig a storm sail when the boat is still under control, either by you or someone else.

How to Rig a Trysail

Storm sails rig up similarly to your regular sails. Precise installation instructions vary between boats and sail models, but you can expect to install them roughly the same way.

The luff and tack of the main storm sail (trysail) typically rig up using sheets to the spinnaker blocks on the mast. The storm sail sheet runs to a block on the deck and then to a winch, similarly to how a jib sheet would run.

How to Rig a Storm Jib

The storm headsail, or storm jib, rig up using an inner forestay or halyard. The storm jib is hanked on, and the jib sheet runs to block and winch on the deck. The storm sheet typically follows the same route as a regular job sheet.

Are Storm Sails Required?

Some sailors believe that the Coast Guard requires storm sails aboard all sailboats. This is not the case, as the USCG doesn't list storm sails on its roster of mandatory safety gear . The majority of sailboats don't (and probably won't ever) have a storm sail aboard.

While storm sails are not a legal requirement aboard sailboats, there are situations where sailors must carry them. Ocean races are an example of one such situation, as many offshore regattas mandate them. This is especially true in Northern latitudes, where rough weather and gale-force winds are commonplace. Most of these organizations don't require sailors to use them; they just require sailors to have them.

How Much do Storm Sails Cost?

Storm sails are typically affordable, at least compared to other emergency gear, such as automatically inflating lifeboats. Storm sail prices vary based on material quality, thickness, and size. Below, we'll cover the price and specifications of a typical storm sail as an example.

Our example model from National Sail and costs $640 . It's a conventional hank-on storm jib, which is the most common type. It has a luff of 28 inches, a leech of 22.5 inches, and a foot of 11.9 inches. It has an overall weight of 9 pounds. Based on its size, this model is designed for a boat around 40 to 50 feet in length.

As you can see, storm sails are relatively affordable, even for large boats. The prices you can expect to pay for a typical 30-foot cruising vessel are between $200 and $350, depending on the quality and thickness of the cloth.

Storm Sail Sizes

It's essential to find the right size storm sail for your boat. Storm sails vary in both dimensions and fabric weight (or material thickness). Most storm sail manufacturers produce trysails and storm jibs for vessels between 20 and 60 feet in length.

Are Storm Sails Necessary for Offshore Cruising?

The debate about the necessity of storm sails has been raging for years. The jury is still out whether sailors should keep one aboard. Some people swear by them, and others dismiss them as a needless complication when reefing and handling would suffice.

It comes down to your personal experience and judgment. Storm sails work, and there are many instances where they've been deployed and likely helped save vessels from knockdown or foundering.

That said, sailors rightfully note that they can be very difficult (and even dangerous) to deploy during storm conditions when captain and crew effort would be more useful trying to handle the vessel.

Storm Sail Use and Preparation

It's essential to practice with storm sails in windy conditions before relying on them in truly dangerous situations. Go out on a windy day and practice deploying and controlling your storm sails. Put a plan in place to get them up quickly and safely.

Make sure to wear a life jacket and harness when deploying storm sails or moving around the boat in rough weather. Ensure that you have a place to attach your harness along the way, especially in areas that you need to stand to rig your storm sails.

Also, make sure to find harness attachment points on both sides of the mast, as you never know what side the boat will be heeling when you need to deploy your storm sails. Once you're confident that you can deploy and control your storm sails quickly and safely, you'll be ready to rely on them as an additional safety measure in rough weather.

Should I Buy Storm Sails?

So, should you buy a set of storm sails? Again, the answer depends on your location, sailing conditions, and personal experience. If you live in an area where rough weather is common or if you intend to embark on an offshore race, it's worth considering a set of storm sails. For the price, storm sails are a cheap insurance policy for hazardous weather.

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Daniel Wade

I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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