How to prepare for HEAVY WEATHER

It’s one thing weathering a storm offshore, but what should coastal sailors do when a big blow is imminent? Martin Thomas explains, and Theo Stocker puts it to the test

- Martin Thomas

From South Ocean pitchpolings to North Atlantic hurricanes, much has been written about the means and methods of surviving heavy weather in open water.

The column inches tend to be dedicated to those with nowhere to hide, but with plenty of sea room to play with. As coastal cruising sailors, we have the luxury of avoiding the worst of it, but we still sail for long enough to eventually be caught out. The proximity of shelter, relatively speaking, is a blessing at this point – we don’t have to endure the battering for very long – but the presence of land is also a hazard, reducing sea room, and with it, options. So knowing how to prepare and how to handle your boat when you do get caught, could be the difference between an entertaining anecdote at the bar later or a call to the lifeboat.

We thought it was worth drawing on the combined knowledge of the seasoned sailors who have contributed to the latest edition of Adland Coles’ bible on the subject, Heavy Weather Sailing, examining what should be done in heavy weather in coastal water, and then trying it out to see what works in practice. Editor Theo Stocker volunteered for this enviable duty, which he insists was actually great fun, and having watched the weather forecast all winter, managed to line up yachts, RIBS, crew and photographers with a Force 8 gale in order to go and play in the rough stuff.

AVOIDANCE