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 Tactics
- Your Sailboat In Big Waves
- Post Storm Assessment
- Conclusion: Your Sailboat In A Storm
Pre-Storm Sailing Checks
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.
Seamanship 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.
Clothing
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.
Reefing
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.
Storm Sails
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
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,
Your Sailboat In Big Waves
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.
Conclusion: Your Sailboat In A Storm
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!
