Summary
Best Sailing Tactics for High Winds and Waves
Many sailors, both novice and seasoned, regard storms as the greatest hazard on the water, despite the fact that more emergencies and fatalities occur during calmer periods. However, strong winds and high waves can pose significant threats to a sailboat. Therefore, any sailor caught in even a summer thunderstorm or a prolonged storm offshore should be well-versed in safety measures for heavy weather.
Storm Sailing Tactics
It’s frequently stated that boats are more resilient than people; thus, your primary concern should be personal safety. Be equipped with essential safety gear, such as personal flotation devices (PFDs) and harnesses or tethers to secure yourself aboard the boat. The boat’s movement will be more intense in storm conditions; consequently, taking proactive measures can prevent injuries and seasickness that could jeopardize your safety. Here are important issues and strategies for maintaining control of your vessel during heavy weather.
Avoiding Shallows
When severe weather approaches, the instinct is often to drop the sails, start the engine, and head for shoreline. If a safe harbor is within reach, this could be your best option. However, it is crucial to acknowledge that wind and waves can swiftly turn shallow areas or narrow channels into more perilous zones than open water, especially if the storm is expected to be brief, making it a matter of waiting it out.
In shallow regions, waves tend to become steeper and more prone to breaking, complicating boat control. Consider the hazard if your engine fails, leading the boat to be rapidly pushed onto rocks or obstructions. Additionally, if the wind is blowing toward the shore, anchoring could pose risks, as the boat might run aground if the anchor fails. Attempting to reset an anchor under storm conditions can be challenging and dangerous. You may find staying in open water and riding out the storm a more viable option with the tactics outlined below.
Reefing
As soon as wind conditions begin to escalate, it is prudent to reef the sails. An old adage suggests that if you’re contemplating reefing, it’s already too late. You certainly don’t want to have excessive sail area up when a strong gust strikes, as this could lead to capsize. Moreover, it is considerably easier to reef the mainsail or furl the jib while conditions are still manageable; attempting to do so during tumultuous conditions can be hazardous.
Do remember that if you’re sailing downwind during increasing winds, you may be deceived about how severe conditions really are until you turn into the wind to reef. Always stay vigilant and reef early, monitoring any changes in wind so you can act promptly and safely.
Storm Sails
Offshore sailors typically carry specialized sails for high-wind conditions. Regular sails can be reefed or furled only to a certain extent before losing their efficient shape, and the material used in standard sails is often too lightweight for severe winds. A storm jib, possibly combined with a trysail replacing the main, allows for continued sailing in stronger winds, often on a course that minimizes wave impact.
Racing sailors tend to have a selection of sails on hand and may opt to navigate through a storm rather than wait it out, while many coastal and recreational sailors do not possess these additional sails and choose to heave to instead.
Lying Ahull
Lying ahull refers to the method of dropping sails and allowing the boat to drift, potentially while seeking shelter below deck. This tactic may be suitable in limited conditions, given that wave size and proximity to land allow for safe drifting. However, in the presence of large, breaking waves, this method carries a grave risk of capsizing, as the boat will be susceptible to rolling broadside to the waves. Never attempt to do this with a small boat likely to fill with water; a larger, enclosed boat would typically be more resilient. Nevertheless, this approach is generally not the best choice during severe storms.
Using a Sea Anchor
Offshore sailors often invest in a sea anchor, which functions like a submerged parachute that keeps the bow positioned into the wind and waves. Facing breaking waves directly mitigates damage and decreases the risk of capsizing. However, sea anchors can be costly and require time and expertise to deploy effectively. This tactic is appropriate for prolonged storms rather than brief rain squalls or thunderstorms.
Heaving To
Heaving to is a respected tactic favored by many sailors. This strategy involves positioning the boat close to the wind, backwinding the jib (with either a partially furled or smaller jib hoisted), and locking the helm in place, enabling the boat to move slowly without exposing its broadside to incoming waves, in contrast to lying ahull. It is advisable for all sailors to practice this maneuver in their vessels to ensure preparedness for its execution when the need arises.
The advantage of heaving to is the opportunity it provides to leave the helm momentarily, depending on conditions, or take cover beneath the dodger. The boat remains oriented close enough to the wind, thus minimizing the likelihood of being rolled by breaking waves. Additionally, the vessel’s downwind sliding motion generates a slick on the water, lessening wave impacts on the boat.
Heaving to while using a sea anchor is considered one of the most prudent storm tactics. The anchor can be positioned slightly off to one side to help the bow maintain a closer angle to the wind than without the sea anchor while still allowing for slight drifting. Resources like the video “Storm Tactics” by world-traveling sailors Lin and Larry Pardey argue fervently in favor of this technique and provide insightful demonstrations on its execution.
Running Off
Lastly, a tactic employed by some proficient sailors is to run off downwind. You should reduce sail accordingly; in extreme storm conditions, it is possible to continue sailing downwind “under bare poles,” meaning without any sail. The primary danger in increasing wind speeds, even when not under sail, lies in achieving excessive speed, as this can result in burying the bow into subsequent waves. This may lead to pitchpoling or capsizing. To manage speed, sailors historically trailed long, heavy lines from the stern, while modern sailors often utilize a specialized drogue for this purpose.
Although some sailors advocate for running off, this tactic necessitates continuous and skillful steering. If the stern is not kept properly aligned with upcoming waves, the boat could rotate sideways, potentially leading to a broach and capsizing.
These brief descriptions serve merely as an introduction to the tactics necessary for sailing in heavy weather. Every boat owner should prepare to take appropriate action in high wind conditions. At a minimum, knowing how to reef and heave to is essential.
