More importantly, it’s imperative I have a plan to utilize all equipment with mental and physical clarity — I must communicate with, and lead the crew to preempt any maneuver with organized actions so I have several options to choose from — but more options require more human readiness! The biggest thing about heavy weather sailing is the heavy weather. If you can avoid the nasties then why don’t you? stress on the engine itself from operating at extreme angles of the heel (engine not lubricating correctly and overheating)

If there’s one takeaway that’s most important here it’s the concept of anticipation. With anticipation at the root of all heavy weather tactics, you’ll never get caught out without a plan.

In this book, former Commodore of the Ocean Cruising Club Martin Thomas brings together a wealth of expert advice from many of the great sailors of the present, including fresh accounts of yachts overtaken by extreme weather, from Ewan Southby-Tailyour, Alex Whitworth and Dag Pike to Larry and Lin Pardey, Matt Sheahan and Andrew Claughton. For over 50 years Heavy Weather Sailing has been regarded as the ultimate international authority on surviving storms at sea aboard sailing and motor vessels. 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. Lots of strain on the boat. Big ships and long keel boats like fisherman boats prefer to take big waves on the bow, but there are serious forces in play and modern lightweight performance yachts are better off going with the wind and waves rather than fighting against the nature Isbjorn’s position relative to the approaching depression when skipper Sandberg began running off east-north-east

Lets say your are caught in bad squall – wind speed is in the 25 to 30 knot range (Beaufort 6 – 7 ) and seas are running at 8 to 10 feet. If the seas are breaking, heaving-to can become dangerous. And despite what I wrote above about all boats being able to heave-to, some are indeed difficult. In either case, consider fore-reaching. If your main sail is rigged with ‘one line’ reefing system and you feel you need to double reef, always start with Reef 1 and then move to Reef 2. If you skip Reef 1 the bottom of your main sail will bellow out and you will lose stability and control. Most coastal and inland water sailors will not encounter the true heavy weather sailing conditions of 40 knot plus winds with 20 to 30 foot waves where the use of warps, drogues and parachute anchors can be critical to survival. It’s common to underestimate the immense power-load that high wind and waves inflict on sailboats and crew. To appreciate the realm of heavy weather, sailors must actually sail in big weather several times — and, experience never alleviates the high-risk of facing heavy weather. Specialized knowledge, training,and hands-on skill is required to improve the odds of success.A heavy weather strategy is predetermined at the planning stage and difficult, if not impossible, to change once offshore (your strategy will have dictated what choices you made at the planning stage regarding boat type, sailplan, equipment list, etc). Tactics, however, are flexible and adaptable as the situation changes. Motoring with no sails set will probably not work in big seas. Sails are needed—at least a reefed main—to provide some stability and extra power. Don’t beam reach when wave heights equal or exceed the beam of the boat, especially in breaking sea. Perhaps it’s the temptation to sail on a marginal forecast to make sure you’re home for work on Monday.

Three-quarters of the skippers said their boats handled the conditions best when beating, fetching or reaching. If depowering the sailplan is not enough, it’s time to shorten sail. In heavy winds, a well-trimmed reefed boat can provide much better speed, control, and comfort than an over-canvased boat. And the first step in reducing sail area is to reduce your jib size. Generally, less sail area in the jib with a full-sized main means better speed, higher pointing, and more control in waves or gusts.As Roger Taylor, a highly regarded ocean sailor and author, points out, this is when preparing the boat properly and having a clear, well thought-out strategy allows you to see the storm not as an ordeal demanding superhuman strength, skill and endurance, but as just a different type of weather. Keep a close eye on the boat for some time to make sure it stays in balance during various cycles of wave and swell patterns You should be flying a number 4 or a storm jib or if you have a furling foresail system, your foresail should be pulled in so that only about 1/3 is flying. With a preventer rigged, things are much safer, though gybing requires more planning. Photo: Richard Langdon / Ocean Images Running