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A 1977 album by jazz group Weather
Report?
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A 1933 novel by P.G. Wodehouse?
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Stormy Conditions, rough seas, high winds?
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Song on Jarvis Cocker’s debut solo album?
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All of the above?

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Heavy Air
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Boat may need adjustment
Course can be maintained
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Heavy Weather
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Crew must take evasive action for safety
Conditions dictate the action


Circumnavigators experience Gale Force conditions < 1% of the time
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Rogue Waves
 can occur where even a single wave can be much higher than average wave height (even 2x)
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Cruising vs Racing
 When cruising, the purpose is to make a smart seamanlike passage with the minimum of wear and tear on the ship and the crew
K Adlard Coles

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Combination of Conditions
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Wind Conditions
Rough, Confused Sea
Large Waves
Breaking Waves
Sudden Wind Shifts
Rain / Spray / Snow / Reduced Visibility
Other Nasty Weather Conditions


Near Gale (Force 7)

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Avg Wind Velocity 28- 33 knots
Avg Wave Heights 13.5– 19feet
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Gale (Force 8)


Avg Wind Velocity 34 - 40 knots
Avg Wave Heights 18 – 25 feet
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Strong Gale (Force 9)

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Avg Wind Velocity 41- 47 knots
Avg Wave Heights 23– 32 feet
Max wave heights may be 2x Avg
Gusts may be much higher
Lower force might be considered Heavy Weather


Pay Attention to the Weather


Wait for weather window for passage
Know what’s headed your way

Know What to Expect Locally

Atlas of Pilot Charts / Local Publications
▪ Average windspeed, directions and wave heights for time of year

Tides & Currents in Area

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Make galley shipshape

Utensils & provisions
Stow all articles in Nav Station
Check the bilge pump is clear
Check floorboards, lockers, fridge
Ensure batteries are locked down
Have quick, high energy food and drink readily available.
Put up leecloths on bunks

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Chart current position

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Make current log entry
Note barometer reading
Note sea room

Take seasickness meds 1 hour before
Remind crew of location of flares, fire extinguishers, flares etc.
Prepare flashlights
Check ditch bag
Don foul weather gear
Don PFD and safety harness
Keep eating and drinking

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Hoist / Check Radar Reflector
Stow or lash everything loose properly

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Any thing that can move will move
Tools, Winch Handles, Bimini, jerry cans
Poles etc

Check Dinghy Lashing
Check Jacklines
Shut all hatches
Ventilators to leeward
Close Engine Vents
Plug Hawse pipe
Lash Anchor
Make sure fog horn is accessible

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Close fuel cocks
Check cockpit lockers
Check cockpit drains are open
Close all seacocks
Prepare stormsails for use
Consider closing companionway hatch
Prepare warps for streaming
Prepare drogues / sea anchor
Check manual bilge pump / bailer

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Reduce Sail
Employ Tactics Early On
Golden Rules (Beth Leonard)
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Avoid Breaking Waves
Avoid taking seas beam-on
▪ Either bow-to or stern-to is better
▪ Balance boat for wind angle
Prepare a variety of Tactics
Avoid Fatigue

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Mainsails
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Reefs in Main
Roller Reefing in Mast
Roller Reefing in Boom
Separate track in mast for storm trysail
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Headsails
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Storm Jib
Roller Reefing Jib (as opposed to furling)
Foresails

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Storm staysail on (demountable?) forestay
High cut to avoid deck wash

Mizzen Sails ?

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Heaving – To – slick of calm to windward
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Reef main for conditions
Backwind jib sized 80-100% of fore-triangle
Helm lashed to head to 40-60 deg off apparent wind
Balance to make only leeway (~ 1-3knots)
Forereaching

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Heave-to equivalent for multi-hull or modern fin keel monohull main with 1 extra reef, or trysail in high wind
Helm lashed close-hauled
Find balance on helm to make slow jogs back and forth to wind
Slow headway towards destination
With large waves heave-to / forereaching may need to be reconsidered as bow gets pushed off wind leaving yacht beam-to the wave train.

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Lying Ahull – slick to windward
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Beam-to waves helm lashed to tend bow up to wind
Bare Poles
Cats only!
Not for single hulls as they could roll

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Scudding / Running

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Bare Poles or stabilizing flat staysail helps keep stern into the wind
Need to reduce speed if yacht starts surfing
▪ Trailing Warps
▪ Sea Anchors
▪ Drogues


Practice Makes Perfect

Need to select appropriate tactics and practice deploying them


“Whatever decision you may make, if you get into trouble, you may be sure that someone who was
come up with something you will
have done.” John F. Wison, ‘Heavy Weather
Guide’




The Voyageur’s Handbook – Beth
Leonard
The International Marine Book of
Sailing – Robby Robinson
Heavy Weather Sailing – K. Adlard
Coles
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Videos - You Tube