| In most cases you will be able to plan your voyage to | | | | You will need to determine who is capable of steering |
| avoid extremes of weather but you still need to know | | | | in these difficult conditions. Be aware that those who |
| how you, your crew and yacht will handle severe | | | | can normally steer for hour after hour, albeit with |
| weather when it occurs. Also, the longer your voyage, | | | | decreasing accuracy, will think they are strong enough |
| the more likely you will be to experience heavy | | | | to last for hours in bad seas. They simply cannot. They |
| weather. | | | | must not be allowed even to try as this may put the |
| Weather forecast | | | | safety of yacht and crew in jeopardy. |
| Keep an eye on weather forecasts for several | | | | Make a roster |
| weeks before setting out. This will enable you to get a | | | | Based on your assessment of your crew, develop a |
| feel for how often and when changes in weather are | | | | roster of those who can steer and those who will be |
| happening. When at sea, getting the most detailed | | | | deckhands. As the latter are likely to be greater in |
| forecast you can will keep you updated on when the | | | | number, they should also be given the task of |
| next front is expected to reach you. So | | | | preparing whatever hot drinks and food can be heated |
| communications are vital. | | | | to sustain all on board. |
| Understand the terms used | | | | Where should you head for? |
| A weather forecast won't have much value if you | | | | The skipper must decide what course to steer and |
| think that a storm warning is not as severe as one for | | | | this will depend to some extent on where you are |
| a gale. This misconception arises because some | | | | going and where the storm is coming from. The |
| people think of thunderstorms when they see or hear | | | | choices are: |
| the word 'storm'. They don't realise that a storm is | | | | - beating into the storm in the hope that you can sail |
| sustained winds averaging 48 knots or more with | | | | through it, to calmer conditions, even though it means |
| violent sea conditions. A gale, on the other hand, is a | | | | sailing at coarse angles to the wind; |
| wind averaging 34-47 knots. That said, you should | | | | - running or reaching at the risk of pitchpoling or being |
| remember that gusts can be 40% stronger. | | | | rolled. |
| In some parts of the world people believe that they | | | | In many cases it is more dangerous to head for port |
| can use the Beaufort Scale to estimate the wind | | | | than to stay at sea, unless you are lucky enough to |
| strength and sea state. The only way to be sure of | | | | reach land before the storm hits. |
| the wind strength is to have an accurate instrument to | | | | Choose a survival method |
| measure it. Any other method is subjective and | | | | If you decide to stay at sea the next thing you will |
| therefore untrustworthy. You'll know from observation | | | | have to do is select which method of survival you're |
| what the sea state is. | | | | going to adopt. Bare poles, lying ahull, sea anchor, |
| Shorten sail | | | | trailing warps all have their adherents and if they work |
| It may be a rare occurrence that you are caught at | | | | on your yacht they've been the right thing to do. But |
| sea in severe weather but you still need to be | | | | my own view is that every one of these methods |
| experienced in rigging the storm gear - storm jib and | | | | reduces the manoeuvrability of the yacht. In some |
| trysail. The former should have a strop attached to the | | | | cases the yacht will assume a position which is |
| tack so that it clears the foredeck, allowing waves to | | | | unnatural and dangerous. Lying ahull or with a sea |
| break beneath it. Its sheets should be fitted | | | | anchor presents the boat at roughly 70 degrees to the |
| permanently. Do not, under any circumstances, attach | | | | seas, much too close to a broaching position for my |
| the clew of the storm trysail to the boom. Drop the | | | | money. |
| boom to the deck and lash it securely in place. | | | | Running under bare poles can mean that the boat |
| Lock the boat down | | | | doesn't have power enough to present itself safely to |
| Put in the storm boards. Close the air vents. If | | | | the waves. |
| necessary, protect the windows. Stow whatever you | | | | Trailing warps can certainly slow the boat and reduce |
| can securely below. During a two-handed race some | | | | the danger of an end-for-end. But again its |
| years ago, the microwave on board the yacht came | | | | manoeuvrability is reduced. |
| away and was bouncing around in the cabin. Before it | | | | You will only learn from experience what suits your |
| could be secured, it punctured a pipe carrying hydraulic | | | | boat best, but remember this: |
| oil which then sprayed the cabin walls and floor, | | | | If you run you stay in the storm longer than if you |
| creating a dangerously slippery environment. At sea, | | | | battle on. If you battle on you need a very good, |
| one emergency easily escalates into a greater one. | | | | reliable crew. |
| Assess your resources | | | | In either case the boat needs to be well found. |