How to sail in a storm

With a sloop rig whether with hank-on or furling sails all effort moves progressively forwards as you reduce sail area. The worse the conditions the less control you have which is a downward spiral best avoided.

Fortunately Shade Sails are also much less expensive to replace or fix than a traditional roof structure and Shade Sail.

How to sail in a storm. 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. 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. If you are sailing into the breeze with a reefed mainsail and your smallest front sail while still struggling to keep you boat under control the next step should be to pull the mainsail all the way down leaving only your front sail - likely your storm jib- up.

The key to sail only by using your front sail is to maintain your speed at all times. You achieve this by sailing slightly below close-hauled and by never steering your. Here are our tips on how to sail in a storm.

This is especially true with passengers. Passengers look to the crew to keep them safe. Dont argue over why you came in to unexpected weather.

That can be debated later over cocktails. If you sail enough you will get in to bad weather. This would place a small storm jib ahead of the storm trysail to balance the boat but still keeping the sails low and centered to the hull improving control and comfort during the storm.

With a balanced sailplan during the storm you will be able to sail in extremely high winds in a similar fashion to when you are sailing in lesser conditions. 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. To lift your storm sail when needed use a halyard.

Your storm sail should be sheeted so its in a close-haul position. Jot down where the sails track is so you can determine pennant length at the stay base. When bad weather calls for you to use your storm sail you can then connect your pennant to your stay base hoisting your storm sail when you do.

Sails down - In case of heavy winds or unpredictable changes reef down your sails immediately. Dont wait for the heavy weather to really kick in. Acting quickly will save you A LOT of trouble.

Dont hold anything thats made from metal - Once the ship is secured make sure you dont touch any metal parts for the duration of the storm. This reduces the chance of you getting fried on impact. Some sails are made with stainless steel fixings so that you can dismantle them and put them back up easily if you think that a big storm is about to strike.

Fortunately Shade Sails are also much less expensive to replace or fix than a traditional roof structure and Shade Sail. Heaving to is an ideal technique for riding out a storm but theres an art to it in heavy seas. Skip Novak explains how to go about itRead more at wwwyac.

Sailing off the west coast of Norway from the island Røvær to city of Haugesund. The day before hurricane Nina had plundered the seas and was leaving 40. Storm Tactic 4.

Employ a sea anchor. The first four actions are that you can take on the boat to keep the sailing under control. Tactic 5 involves off-boat control methods which require special equipment and techniques.

Reefing the mainsail and headsail. With a sloop rig whether with hank-on or furling sails all effort moves progressively forwards as you reduce sail area. This makes the boat a pig to sail to windward.

The worse the conditions the less control you have which is a downward spiral best avoided. 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 boats progress.

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. Rig inner forestay for the storm jib if available and bend on sail and secure sheets and tack on deck.

Make sure sheets are properly secured above deck or run to the clew later when needed. On how to Sail Through Storms. Wow how life can mirror what we need to do here at Drexel Misery and Danger Although everyone will remember it differently years later a long wet cold sail through a storm can be miserable.

A storm trysail track either to port or starboard of the mainsail track should rise a foot or two above where the head of the sail is intended to be thus providing flexibility as to hoist and tack position and providing more support through regular fastenings for the track where the head of the sail. To keep your boat powered you will want to maintain a constant apparent wind angle to the wind usually about 130 is best and if youve take our electronic navigation course dealing with polar plots youll learn that you go faster downwind towards your destination by sailing at 130 off the wind rather than directly at at your destination at 180.