storm proof sailboat

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What sailboats could survive a full blown hurricane at sea?

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What sailboats are the most seaworthy? Boats that can withstand 30+ foot ocean waves?  

Does "full blown" mean Category1? Or Category5? Read "Fastnet, Force 10" to get some idea how boats do at sea.  

The Westsail 32 in the book/movie The Perfect Storm survived. But, survival also depends on how well the boat was maintained. That same Westsail in poor condition may have had a different ending.  

A 30 foot wave at sea and and a thirty foot wave on your local beach are not the same thing. A thirty foot wave at sea only occasionally breaks and when it does, only a portion of it becomes white water. Don't get me wrong, the energy in that portion is still formidable and can do damage but it isn't like the breaking wave that hits land. Mostly you sail over thirty foot waves at sea without incident. Another thing to consider is surfing. In my opinion allowing you boat to surf swells of 30 feet is playing Russian Roulette - eventually one will kill you. I won't elaborate here. We sailed through a storm with 80kn and 30+ feet. We got knocked down twice by breaking waves as described above but we safely "sailed" over hundreds more. We sustained more damage from the wind than from the sea. We have a 44ft GRP sloop. Was that a "full blown hurricane"? No because it only lasted two days. But in terms of wind speed and wave size, yes it probably equaled a Cat 1. Would you survive a Cat 5? I don't think so.  

I presume you are looking for a neat list. Do you want that in alphabetical order or by LOA? Color?  

Big ships often fair worse than a small sailboat in extreme conditions. Whereas a large ship may span a few waves and beak her back, a strong, small sailboat would be much like a cork, if watertight. I have survived 2 hurricanes at sea in sailboats. The first was just west of Fiji, probably a high cat 1, but it was before satellites so it may not be a "full blown" storm in your mind. We were capsized 3 times and sustained a lot of damage, but she got us back to a safe anchorage, so I guess she was a pretty good boat, considering she was 65 when she went through it. The second storm was in the western Indian ocean and because we were beating, we escaped the full force of the storm, but it was still 45 to 60 knots for 10 very difficult days as the darn thing chased us across the ocean. That boat was Brown 37' trimaran, which handled quite a few "heavy weather" experiences very well, including 1200 miles up the Red Sea in northerlies. Once again, it would very much depend on the choices made by and the experience of the captain (certainly NOT the case in the hurricane (cyclone if you prefer) off Fiji, as I made some very bad choices, but as they say, "hindsight is 20/20"); good choices increase the survivability in any situation, especially at sea, in heavy weather.  

In general, and your sea miles may vary: NO sailboat is guaranteed to survive a hurricane. There are no guarantees at sea, except that the sea has a good chance of finding its way through weaknesses in either boat or crew. Any small boat skipper who intentionally challenges a hurricane would seem likely to be either a fool, harboring a death wish, under terrible pressure, seriously unlucky, or extraordinarily delusionally over-confident. Theoretically, a boat could be designed for having a maximum probability of surviving hurricanes, but it might have to be so over-built that it would be a pig in normal conditions. (glossing over some discussion of Westsails and such like) There are boats built to sail in heavy conditions, and one could do a lot with flotation, water tight compartments, over-built rigs, high-strength impact-resistant hulls, more-or-less bulletproof steering systems, control lines led to sheltered locations, etc. If one were wealthy. But, a thirty-foot breaking wave can simply overpower most smaller craft, depending on how it catches a boat and how well the crew is able to anticipate and respond. With good voyage planning and weather routing and an efficient boat, a smart and not-too-unlucky crew can avoid most of the really heavy weather. What's sometimes harder to avoid and to manage is the really light stuff.  

What sailboat could survive a full-blown hurricane at sea? A fortunate one.  

Read God Forsaken Sea by Derek Lundy. Be prepared for some terrible gut wrenching descriptions.  

Me too. I cant remember ever hearing about a battleship or an aircraft carrier going down due to rough weather. And, the food is good.  

maybe not breaking it's back.. but my father rememebers seeing the intrepid with her flightdeck even with the water... and he was on an LST. The carrier sailors joked that people on his ship should have gotten Submarine pay as they spent most of the time under the waves. From what he tells of the story, they were taking 50 degree rolls.. LSTs are only supposed to take 40 before the capsize. I know of the Westsail that survived the perfect storm.. and a few Alberg 37s that survived some serious weather. Two that went through the Fast Net Gale with minimal damage and one that wound up beached with only scratches from a hurricane  

The USN would disagree with the idea that warships are safe in a typhoon. In 1944 a number of ships were capsized and lost in Typhoon Cobra. Typhoon Cobra (1944) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia There are too many variables to say which boats would survive a hurricane. In a class 5 hurricane in the dangerous quadrant, essentially NO sailboat would be likely to survive. Currents, types of wave action, proficiency of the captain and crew, equipment on board, strategies for dealing with big seas, and whether you've pissed off Neptune...all variables making huge differences in ability to handle bad weather. It's not just the boat. An Alberg 35 survived the Fastnet storm by just taking sails down and going below with bare poles.  

smurphny said: The USN would disagree with the idea that warships are safe in a typhoon. In 1944 a number of ships were capsized and lost in Typhoon Cobra. Typhoon Cobra (1944) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ... Click to expand...

Read "Rescue in the Pacific". Great book, not a hurricane, but a nasty storm none-the-less. All but one of the 'boats' survived it. It was the people that didn't.  

OK, fine. Then I won't go to sea in a warship. That settles it.  

I think it was one of Michner's books, maybe Tales of the South Pacific , that has a great fictional/historical account of this storm and what it must have been like to come upon the tragic sight of the wrong side of a destroyer from the deck of a sister ship.  

Might have been. Will have to search around and find where that section came from. It was a really haunting description, in the middle of a raging storm, of one warship looking out ahead and coming upon one that had capsized. Really presented a vivid and disturbing scene that has stuck with me.  

Make all the boat lists you want , but the thing that most makes a boat seaworthy is the person sailing her. There's no magic pill to get you through 30 foot seas. The best regarded blue water vessel ill managed at sea isn't worth spit . Conversely , a lessor boat skillfully handled might make a miracle .  

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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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19 September

OFF-SEASON AND WINTER SAIL CARE GUIDE

17 September

FOUR KEY COMPONENTS TO OFF-SEASON SAIL CARE

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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…

Sailing in storms and squalls

One crew's brisk breeze and exciting sail can be another's gale, even if sailing similar boats. So what makes the…

Heaving to: a question of balance

How tricky is heaving to, and how much does it vary from boat to boat? We tried four different hull…

7 Storm Jibs on test

We test 7 storm jibs, including wrap around and sleeved sails, to find out the best options for your boat

Broaching on a boat and how to prevent it

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

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

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Docking a Boat Secrets – Ten Tips to Storm Proof Your Sailboat

Would your small cruising or racing sailboat be able to weather a gale, storm, or hurricane in her slip, at a mooring, or at anchor? Will you have peace-of-mind the next time Mother Nature decides to unleash her fury in your area? Follow this handy ten-step checklist to make sure you do! Wherever you live, you can expect to be visited by severe weather once in a while. And if you’ve strolled through any marina after a major storm and seen the damage, this provides a real “wake up” call to us sailors. What else could have been done? Much of what I’m about to show you was done with our large fleet at the Chapman School of Seamanship in Stuart, Florida to prepare for hurricanes. These boats included sail and power craft from twenty to fifty feet. Most of these boats were tied up inside of slips. Read over this checkoff list. Add to it. But by all means, print off a copy and add it to your storm preparations. When the heavy stuff comes your way, you’ll be glad you did! http://www.skippertips.com/public/Docking_a_Boat_Secrets__Ten_Tips_to_Storm_Proof_Your_Sailboat_2.cfm 1. Double Up All Lines 2. Add Chafing Gear 3. Put Out Horizontal and Vertical Fenders 4. Shut Off all Seacocks Except This One! 5. Strip Away Canvas and Sails 6. Batten and Tape Hatches 7. Remove or Sink Dinghies 8. Secure Electronics, Charge Batteries, Check Pumps 9. Put Out Anchors and Increase Scope 10. Lock it and Leave It Read this article in detail http://www.skippertips.com/public/Docking_a_Boat_Secrets__Ten_Tips_to_Storm_Proof_Your_Sailboat_2.cfm

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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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The Storm Sailing Techniques

Navigating through a storm while sailing can be a daunting task, but with the right techniques and preparation, it can be done safely and confidently. This comprehensive guide provides essential tips and insights to help sailors tackle the challenges of storm sailing and enjoy the adventure.

Sailing is an adventurous and fulfilling lifestyle, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One of the most daunting aspects of sailing is dealing with storms. Storms can be unpredictable, and they can test the skills and resilience of even the most experienced sailors. In this article, we will discuss various storm sailing techniques and preparation tips to help you navigate through these challenging situations with confidence and ease.

Table of Contents

Understanding storms and weather patterns, preparation before setting sail, running before the storm, forereaching, lying ahull, storm sailing gear and equipment, safety tips and best practices.

Before we delve into storm sailing techniques, it’s essential to understand the basics of storms and weather patterns. Storms are caused by the interaction of warm and cold air masses, which can lead to the formation of low-pressure systems. These systems can produce strong winds, heavy rain, and rough seas, making sailing in these conditions challenging and potentially dangerous.

To prepare for storm sailing, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with weather patterns and forecasting tools. By understanding the signs of an approaching storm and monitoring weather forecasts, you can make informed decisions about when to set sail and when to seek shelter.

Proper preparation is key to ensuring a safe and successful storm sailing experience. Here are some essential steps to take before setting sail:

Check the weather forecast: Always check the weather forecast before embarking on a sailing trip. Look for any signs of storms or adverse weather conditions, and plan your route accordingly.

Inspect your boat: Perform a thorough inspection of your boat, checking for any signs of damage or wear that could compromise its performance in a storm. Pay particular attention to the rigging, sails, and hull.

Prepare your crew: Ensure that your crew is well-trained and familiar with storm sailing techniques. Discuss your plans and expectations with them, and make sure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities in case of a storm.

Pack essential gear and supplies: Stock up on essential gear and supplies, such as extra food, water, and clothing, as well as safety equipment like life jackets, flares, and a well-stocked first aid kit.

Create a storm plan: Develop a storm plan that outlines your intended course of action in case of a storm. This plan should include details on how to secure the boat, communicate with your crew, and manage any emergencies that may arise.

Storm Sailing Techniques

There are several storm sailing techniques that can help you navigate through rough seas and strong winds. The best technique for your situation will depend on factors such as the size and type of your boat, the severity of the storm, and your level of experience. Here are some common storm sailing techniques to consider:

Heaving-to is a storm sailing technique that involves slowing the boat down and positioning it at an angle to the wind and waves. This technique can help you maintain control of your boat and reduce the risk of damage from strong winds and rough seas.

To heave-to, follow these steps:

• Tack the boat without releasing the jib sheet.
• Adjust the mainsail so that it’s slightly luffing.
• Turn the rudder in the opposite direction of the wind.
• Adjust the sails and rudder as needed to maintain a steady position.

Heaving-to can be an effective technique for riding out a storm, as it allows you to maintain control of your boat while minimizing the risk of damage. However, it’s essential to monitor your boat’s position and make adjustments as needed to avoid drifting into dangerous areas.

Running before the storm is a technique that involves sailing downwind, allowing the wind and waves to push your boat along. This technique can help you maintain control of your boat and reduce the risk of damage from strong winds and rough seas.

To run before the storm, follow these steps:

• Set your sails for downwind sailing, with the mainsail on one side of the boat and the jib on the other.
• Steer the boat so that it’s running parallel to the waves, with the wind and waves coming from behind.
• Adjust your course as needed to maintain a steady downwind run.

Running before the storm can be an effective technique for managing strong winds and rough seas, but it’s essential to monitor your boat’s position and make adjustments as needed to avoid drifting into dangerous areas.

Forereaching is a storm sailing technique that involves sailing slowly into the wind, allowing the boat to make forward progress while minimizing the risk of damage from strong winds and rough seas.

To forereach, follow these steps:

• Set your sails for upwind sailing, with the mainsail and jib both trimmed in tightly.
• Steer the boat into the wind, maintaining a close-hauled course.
• Adjust your sails and rudder as needed to maintain a slow, steady speed.

Forereaching can be an effective technique for managing strong winds and rough seas, but it’s essential to monitor your boat’s position and make adjustments as needed to avoid drifting into dangerous areas.

Lying ahull is a storm sailing technique that involves allowing the boat to drift freely, with the sails down and the rudder centered. This technique can help you conserve energy and reduce the risk of damage from strong winds and rough seas.

To lie ahull, follow these steps:

• Lower and secure all sails.
• Center the rudder and lock it in place.
• Monitor your boat’s position and make adjustments as needed to avoid drifting into dangerous areas.

Lying ahull can be an effective technique for riding out a storm, but it’s essential to monitor your boat’s position and make adjustments as needed to avoid drifting into dangerous areas.

Having the right gear and equipment on board can make a significant difference in your storm sailing experience. Here are some essential items to consider:

Storm sails: Storm sails are smaller, more robust sails designed for use in strong winds and rough seas. They can help you maintain control of your boat and reduce the risk of damage.

Sea anchor or drogue: A sea anchor or drogue is a device that can be deployed in the water to help slow your boat down and maintain a steady position. This can be particularly useful when using storm sailing techniques like heaving-to or running before the storm.

Heavy-duty foul weather gear: Investing in high-quality foul weather gear, such as waterproof jackets, pants, and boots, can help keep you dry and comfortable during storm sailing.

Harnesses and tethers: Wearing a harness and tether can help keep you secure on deck during storm sailing, reducing the risk of injury or falling overboard.

Waterproof communication devices: Having waterproof communication devices, such as VHF radios or satellite phones, can help you stay in touch with your crew and monitor weather updates during storm sailing.

Storm sailing can be challenging and potentially dangerous, so it’s essential to prioritize safety at all times. Here are some safety tips and best practices to keep in mind:

Monitor the weather: Stay informed about weather conditions and forecasts, and be prepared to adjust your plans as needed.

Communicate with your crew: Keep your crew informed about your plans and expectations, and make sure everyone knows their roles and responsibilities during storm sailing.

Practice storm sailing techniques: Regularly practice storm sailing techniques with your crew, so everyone is familiar with the procedures and can respond quickly and effectively in case of a storm.

Stay on deck: During storm sailing, it’s essential to stay on deck and monitor your boat’s position and performance. This can help you identify and address any issues before they become more significant problems.

Stay tethered: Always wear a harness and tether when on deck during storm sailing, to reduce the risk of injury or falling overboard.

Storm sailing can be a challenging and exhilarating experience, but it’s essential to be well-prepared and prioritize safety at all times. By understanding storms and weather patterns, preparing your boat and crew, and mastering storm sailing techniques, you can navigate through rough seas and strong winds with confidence and ease. Remember to always monitor the weather, communicate with your crew, and practice storm sailing techniques regularly to ensure a safe and successful storm sailing experience.

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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.

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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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Docking a Boat Secrets - Ten Tips to Storm Proof Your Sailboat

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