Tips for Sailing in Bad Weather on a Sailing Yacht

The situation is standard: the wind gradually increases, the waves become higher, and the sky becomes noticeably dimmer. The wind is about to turn into a strong squall, a downpour will drench the deck, and a real storm will break out overboard. 

A good sailor is not one who is not afraid of a storm - a good sailor is always prepared for it. In this article, we will talk about how you can use even a storm to gain an exciting life experience.

This article is adapted from Gary Jobson's article "Cruise Control: Heavy Weather Sailing Advice" for Cruising World magazine.

Before going out to sea

The best way to turn a storm into a life experience is to not get caught in it. There are many tools for this today, including weather apps and meteorological websites. Thanks to satellites, modern weather forecasts have become an order of magnitude more accurate, but for greater reliability, you can use several sources of information.

Here are some reliable sites:

• National Weather Service
• The Weather Channel
• SailFlow
• Windy
• PredictWind

After your first day on the water, study the weather forecast results and find out which service gave you the most accurate results for you. Thanks to communications like Starlink, we yachtsmen have almost universal access to the Internet, but we still recommend saving forecast results for at least a few days in advance. This will help you save at least a rough forecast in case of loss of satellite communication.

Controlling a sailing yacht in strong winds

Once you leave the dock or marina, you should keep a close eye on the weather. On large bodies of water, you can see how the weather conditions change, so to speak, live. Keeping your yacht under control in strong winds depends on setting the sails correctly and choosing a comfortable course.

The main layer of problems arises when the boat's hull begins to hit the waves hard. Usually this process coincides with the moment when the helmsman gradually begins to lose control over the yacht. In simplified form, the control technique looks like this:

• stay on the windward side to improve control of the boat (except in cases of severe heeling, when the leeward side may be safer);
• to bear away from the wind smoothly, avoiding sudden movements, controlling the sheets and reducing the load on the sails;
• carefully monitor the gusts of wind, adjust not only the course, but also the tension of the sails to avoid excessive heeling and loss of control.

Well-coordinated work of the crew

The success of passing any obstacles, including storms and squalls, depends on the team's coherence. In order to improve this coherence, it is necessary to ensure clear communication between the helmsman, the pitman (he is also an observer, a person assessing the situation, and can also be a bowman) and trimmers (for lack of a separate term in the Ukrainian and Russian languages, this is what people responsible for adjusting the sails are called).

The key task of the crew is to be in the right place at the right time, i.e. to be ready for any changes in the current situation. This includes, for example, the need to quickly reef or ease the sails depending on the strength of the wind and the heel.

In addition, the crew must be well protected with windproof and waterproof clothing, appropriate gloves, footwear, goggles, life jackets and safety ropes. Due to difficult weather conditions, crew members must be within sight of each other. Commands must be given loudly and clearly so that the sound of the elements does not drown them out.

Adjusting boat speed and control

Key point: slowing down. In most cases, slowing down will be more beneficial, especially if the sails are already working at their limit. In fact, reducing the sail area (reefing the mainsail, furling the jib) will improve the boat's control. In a strong gust of wind, it is the reefing that can prevent the boat from heeling or capsizing.

The main factor is to control the position of the mainsail and staysail, and to observe how they work. All this is the responsibility of the trimmer or helmsman, who combines several roles. Here are some additional tips:

• Reduce the load on the sails - use sheet tension (Outhaul, Downhaul) to smooth out the sails.
• Avoid sharp turns to prevent unintentional gybe.
• If there is no option to avoid a tailwind, try to use a more stable tack instead of moving straight downwind.
• Make sure that the jib does not get wet from the water that is thrown out from the bow of the boat.
• If there is no squall wind around, you can try sailing with a spinnaker. The main thing is to raise and lower it smoothly, avoiding the sail tearing and loss of control.

General safety recommendations for swimming in bad weather

1. Let's look below deck: it is advisable to securely fasten items in the cabins in their places. This will help avoid chaos during strong pitching or heeling. Particular attention should be paid to anything that can break (dishes) and sharp objects (knives, forks).

2. Assign roles: each crew member must know not only their role, but also their personal procedure for action in an emergency or difficult situation. This applies to all people on board.

3. Return to the marina: a squall and worsening weather conditions are already a reason to quickly return to the marina or find a safe shelter. Do not tempt fate and try to get into the epicenter of bad weather. Yes, such an experience cannot be compared with anything - as well as the risk of losing your life.

conclusions 

Sailing in strong winds is not only a challenge, but also an opportunity to test yourself, the boat and the crew. The main thing is preparation, crew coordination and attention to detail. At the same time, it is necessary to understand the line and understand when you can frolic on the waves for an hour or two, and when it is better to return to the marina. Follow the safety rules on a sailing yacht and then any of your cruises will turn into an unforgettable experience.

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27.02.2025