videos of sailboats in storms

5 Terrific Heavy Weather Sailing Videos

Don't miss the most dramatic heavy weather videos.

When sailing, we don’t always find sun, calm sea and relaxation. Sometimes we have to face heavy weather conditions. Exactly as happens to the protagonists of these 5 videos. We can tell you … they are all fine!

Hallberg-Rassy 48 heavy weather

Heavy weather at 80 north

Generali in the storm

The Toughest Sailing Race | Volvo Ocean Race 2011-12 

Global challenge rough weather footage.

1936. Voyage around Cape Horn by schooner Wanderbird

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Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Skip Novak’s Storm Sailing Techniques Part 1: the Pelagic Philosophy

• September 30, 2014

No one knows more about storm sailing than Skip Novak, the pioneer of high-latitudes charters in Pelagic. In the first of an exclusive 12-month series of articles and videos he shares the ethos behind every trip he makes

Skip Novak at the helm of his adventure cruising yacht Pelagic

Let’s put to one side my previous life as an ocean racer. As a pioneer of the high-latitude charter in Pelagic , I have been ‘cruising’ (excuse the oxymoron) offshore south of 50°S for the last 25 years. The Southern Ocean dishes out high winds and big seas, and passages there are followed by seat-of-the-pants inshore navigation, mainly in unsounded waters along hostile shorelines; the Antarctic Peninsula, Tierra del Fuego and the sub-Antarctic island of South Georgia.

Combine all this and you naturally develop tried and tested methods and approaches to storm sailing systems and equipment to stay safe and stay comfortable – in two words, to stay ‘down there’. There is no need for dramas and epics, although we’ve certainly had some, now filed as learning experiences the hard way. Over time, however, what began as conservative habits eventually evolves into something more than just procedures.

I call it the Pelagic philosophy.

From demanding to doable

This philosophy makes what appears to be a horrendously difficult, physically demanding and psychologically wearing lifestyle perfectly doable. And the years roll by, with the happy revelation that you never tire of it all. This is hard to imagine from an armchair. But if you seek out open space, true wilderness and a sense of accomplishment that sets you apart – and I admit to that indulgence – then high-latitude sailing is for you.

I have been accused of many things. A dissatisfied client once told his friends I was running a boot camp instead of a charter business – something to do with force-marching the guests up the nearest mountain before dinner in every anchorage.

Also, I know well that I have been considered a Luddite of sorts, who is immune to the gadget trade; possibly some kind of primitive throwback simply because I still enjoy wailing away on manual winches and pulling on ropes – exerting myself for the hell of it, when I could be pushing buttons like so many do these days.

The beauty of simplicity

However, there is method in my apparent madness. The Pelagic philosophy has always been one of simplicity of systems and a belt-and-braces approach to all things on board. OK, so it might be a little less so now, but it certainly was when it evolved two decades ago, when we were based from Ushuaia in Tierra del Fuego and lived and worked in an environment with no marine services let alone spares readily available.

The nearest yachting centre was Buenos Aires 1,000 miles away. Communication was by telex and a tenuous and expensive phone link to the mainland. I didn’t see the first fax machine in Ushuaia until 1993 (and that was owned by a predatory shipping agent who tried to charge US$100 a page). Courier services were unreliable and Customs in places like Argentina was so draconian that if any shipment did reach you, it was best to cross your chest as it was almost divine intervention. Basically, we were on our own.

Some crews call it Luddite, but gear on Pelagic is there for necessity not for convenience

Aside from the ability to communicate via email on- and offshore, this situation has not changed much today, so the following observations remain valid for anyone embarking on a remote cruise, at least in that southern South American sector. I would also add that some of these frustrations and inconveniences had their charming side too!

Every cruising sailor should ask themselves two things before they embark on a long-term voyage. Am I cruising to see places and have experiences? Or am I cruising to fiddle around with my over-elaborated boat? Be honest.

There’s no harm in the latter – it can be a hobby turned into lifestyle. But if you take this tack it’s best to sail close to the marine service centres of the world – unless, that is, you happen to be either an ex-Royal Navy engineer or a tech geek who is happy to remain dockside for extended periods in the middle of nowhere fixing things.

Of course, the genre of larger yachts of the superyacht category operate within entirely different circumstances. (Similarly, a distinction must be made between them and the couple on a 40- to 100-footer or those on professionally crewed family cruisers.) Because of their size and unwieldy sail plans, superyachts can only be managed by sophisticated systems supported by maintenance contracts.

The crunch question: are you cruising to see the world or to fiddle on the boat?

As an example, most captains and crews are not trusted (nor allowed) to tune their own rigs because they usually come under a maintenance contract with the mastmaker. Therefore, superyachts and their particular tribulations are not within the scope of this series.

A cruising ethos

But if seeing the world is your mission, with your boat merely a means to an end (and especially if you want to go remote, whether in the tropics or high latitudes), you need to think your modi operandi out clearly. The climber/surfer/entrepreneur Yvonne Chounaird, who founded and still owns Patagonia, has a great take on this: “Consider every piece of technology that comes your way. Take what is absolutely necessary and discard the rest.” He was talking about a certain quality of life, but the mindset can apply to any application.

It’s an attitude at once anathema to designers, builders, equipment suppliers – many of whom who have done little or no cruising – and most of the people who read and support this magazine. It is a brave editor even to publish the heresy in these pages. But there is a place for gadgets, innovation, experimentation and pushing the limits – it is the Mediterranean, northern Europe, US and the city centres of Australasia. Because this approach costs in money as much as lost cruising time.

Time and time again I witnessed yachts dock-bound, behind schedule or missing a window completely because the mainsail wouldn’t disappear into the boom or mast (or come back out). Or they were waiting for parts for a system that wasn’t fundamental to the cruise, more a convenience.

Boots and buckets

Naturally, if you have a garbage compacter or washing machine you expect it to work and it is frustrating when it doesn’t. Yet I am always incredulous when I see departures delayed or scrubbed when, to use the examples above, a booted foot in a plastic bag and a bucket will do the jobs nicely.

In this series my crew and I on Pelagic will demonstrate some manoeuvres that many of you have done ad infinitum. We will also look at some equipping issues. You may consider some of these comments and observations somewhat oversimplified and retro. So be it. I find at sea I am continually learning, but also continually unlearning what doesn’t work.

To get from A to B in one piece and be able to enjoy what B has to offer is the thing. Sticking to first principles works every time. My advice: simplify your boat, its systems and your mindset. It can be a liberating experience.

Part 2: expedition yacht design

Skip Novak gives us a tour of Pelagic and Pelagic Australis to show what makes them special for high-latitudes sailing.

12-part series in association with Pantaenius

You can subscribe to the whole series for the year.

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• Digital Editions

Video: 10 ships caught in a storm

• Stef Bottinelli

Watch the dramatic footage of these ships and boats caught in a storm and battling it out in rough seas.

We’ve all seen videos of boats struggling through stormy weather and choppy seas, but this footage collection by Storm Force could make even the most seasoned sailor feel seasick.

Watch as these 10 ships and boats brave the elements to make it safely to port or carry on with their voyage and take a look at the impressive seamanship and courage of captains and crew.

A boat caught in rough seas

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Dramatic video and pictures show RNLI yacht rescue in gale conditions

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Sail Far Live Free

Heavy weather tactics: 5 options for sailing through a storm.

• Do you have enough sea room to allow the boat to crab slowly to leeward? The answer will obviously vary depending on your distance shore, the direction of the wind/current, and the longevity of the storm conditions. Remember, heaving-to is a passive tactic, so you’ve got to be o.k. with letting the boat do its thing while you hunker down in the cabin.
• Are your sails and rigging up to the task? As with many storm tactics, your sails and rigging will be subjected to high loads and chafe. Is your boat equipped with storm sails that can handle strong winds and potential flogging? Our boat's sails wouldn't be up to the task of remaining hove-to for hours on end, but I'm confident that I could ride out a short summer squall. 
• How well does your particular boat heave-to and will it remain hove-to without putting your beam to the seas? Large swells and breaking waves can be trouble for a boat that doesn’t like to heave-to.
• Do you have sea room to run off? That is, is there land, shallow water or other dangers downwind of your position that make this tactic unadvisable? Furthermore, will running off simply serve to keep you in the path of the storm longer than an alternative tactic? 
• Can you maintain steering with the wind and waves on your stern quarters or directly abaft?
• Do you need to deploy a drogue or warps to slow your forward speed in order to maintain control and keep from being overpowered by the waves?
• Are you up for the physically exhausting challenge of manually steering your ship for potentially hours or days on end? 

• Sailing a Serious Ocean by John Kretschmer
• The Voyager's Handbook by Beth Leonard
• Heavy Weather Sailing by Peter Bruce
• Storm Tactics Handbook by Lin and Larry Pardey
• Bluewater Handbook by Steve Dashew
• Heavy Weather Sailing Tips - An interview with Allen Breckall on The Sailing Podcast
• Mahina Expeditions - Learn from longtime cruisers and offshore sailors John and Amanda Neal
• YaYa Blues  - Join John Kretschmer for a workshop or participate as crew on an expedition

Lots of great advice and references in there, thanks for all the helpful tips! We were caught in an unexpected gale in the Gulf Stream this year with winds sustained out of the north averaging 45 knots for a good 90 minutes. We were running off under bare poles until the winds subsided to the mid 30's, but it worked out well for us.

Thanks Jessica. That's exactly the kind of real world experience I was hoping folks would share in the comments.

We were in a big storm in Stewart Island - New Zealand - getting blown on to a lee shore. We tried to start the motor to help us crab to windward, but in one knock down the motor must have got a big gulp of air instead of diesel. Anyway it meant that the motor cut out. So if you do try and use your motor to assist, make sure you have got a full tank of fuel.

Concerning lying a-hull, it's interesting to read Alan Villiers's account of using this tactic with the Mayflower-II during her crossing in 1957. He wrote "we had no idea what would happen,as no one had attempted this in a ship of this type in over 200 years..." He went on to note that with the sails down, and the rudder lashed to leeward, she pointed up nicely and "lay as a duck on a pond with her head tucked under her wing." (I'm paraphrasing here, since I can't find my copy of Men Ships and the Sea at the moment...) Its' worth noting that ships of that type, with their huge, boxy top-sides had substantially different windage characteristics than our sleek modern designs. From what I've been able to glean, lying a-hull in a square-rigged galleon 300 years ago probably wasn't a terribly different proposition than heaving to under a back-winded jib today.

I should have added that as I understand it at least, it was a maneuver designed to keep the waves on your stern quarter. Same principles, just facing a different direction? I'm gonna have to find my copy of that darn book now, as I'm confusing myself and sounding like an idiot.

Thanks for your wonderful and so helpful tips. We also would like to invite you to our Sailing Community - Clubtray Sailing Clubtray Sailing where members could be more helpful by your great advices and references. Hope to read more kind of real world experiences from you soon.

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A Complete Guide To Sailing In A Storm

Sailing in a storm can be a challenging experience but with the right preparation and techniques, it can be navigated safely in most instances.

While it's best to avoid storms when sailing, there are times when storms cannot be avoided.

To sail in a storm:

• Prepare the sailboat for a storm
• Monitor the weather conditions
• Adjust the sailboat to stabilize the vessel in the storm
• Maintain communication with the coast guard

The number one priority when sailing in a storm is safely navigating through the water during these bad weather conditions.

1. Prepare The Sailboat For A Storm

The first step of sailing in a storm is to prepare the sailboat for storm weather conditions.

To prepare a sailboat for a storm:

• Check the rigging & sails : Assess the rigging and sails overall condition. Ensure they are in full working order with no issues with maneuverability or rips in the sails. There should be a storm sail onboard too in preparation for sailing in the storm
• Ensure safety equipment is onboard : Ensure there are liferafts, life jackets for everyone onboard, life buoys, heaving lines, sailing jackets, flashlights, flares, VHF radios, chartplotter/GPS, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers
• Remove the boat canvas/bimini top : In preparation for sailing in a storm, remove the boat canvas/bimini top to prevent it from getting damaged or destroyed or causing injury to passengers onboard ‍
• Ensure loose items are tied down : Any loose items like lines on the deck should be tied down and secured before sailing in a storm. Loose items can become dislodged and damaged or cause injury to passengers onboard if they are not secured during a storm
• Ensure the sailboat's engine is in great condition : Ensure the sailboat's motor is in perfect condition with sufficient oil and fuel to operate during the storm

Preparing the sailboat for a storm will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. This timeframe will vary depending on the size of the vessel and the amount of equipment needed to be purchased and installed onboard.

In preparing for sailing in a storm, there is certain sailboat equipment needed. The equipment needed for sailing in a storm includes a storm sail, heaving lines, sailing jackets, life jackets, life buoys, liferafts, first aid kit, Chartplotter/GPS, fire extinguishers, VHF radio, and flares.

The benefits of preparing the sailboat for a storm are a sailor will be prepared for any issues caused by the storm and a sailor will have the necessary safety equipment to help keep everyone onboard safe during the storm.

One downside of preparing the sailboat for a storm is it can be costly (over $500) especially if the sailor does not have all the right equipment needed to withstand the stormy weather. However, this is a small downside.

2. Monitor The Weather Conditions

The second step of sailing in a storm is to monitor the weather conditions regularly.

To monitor the weather conditions:

• Connect to the VHF radio weather channel : Connect to channel 16 on the VHF radio as this channel provides storm warnings and urgent marine information for boaters
• Use a chartplotter : Modern chartplotters will have marine weather data for boaters to monitor the weather conditions and check windspeeds, rainfall levels, wave height and other relevant marine weather data
• Check a marine weather forecast provider website : If you have internet access on the sailing trip, connect to a marine weather provider for marine weather forecast information in your area

In sailing, weather conditions are considered a storm when the wind speed is 28 knots or higher and the wave heights are 8ft or higher. Other characteristics of stormy weather when sailing is poor visibility with visibility ranges of under half a mile (0.8km or less) and heavy rain with a precipitation rate of at least 0.1 inches (2.5 millimeters) per hour.

It can take approximately 3 to 6 hours for a storm to fully develop when sailing. However, for larger storms, it can take over 2 days for the storm to fully develop.

Monitoring the weather should be done every 20 minutes when sailing in a storm to get up-to-date information on potential nearby locations with better weather to sail to.

The benefit of regularly monitoring the weather conditions is a sailor will be more prepared for the weather that lies ahead and the sailor will be able to make adjustments to their sailing route to help avoid the bad weather.

3. Adjust The Sailboat To Stabilize The Vessel

The third step of sailing in a storm is to adjust the sailboat to stabilize the vessel.

When sailing through the storm, reef the sails to reduce the stress and load on the mast and sails, attach the storm sails, turn the vessel until the wave and wind direction are blowing from the stern of the sailboat, i.e. the wind is blowing downwind. Carefully tack the sailboat slowly until the boat is in the downwind position. Pointing the sailboat downwind is not recommended if the sailboat is near land as it could cause the boat to run into the land.

Alternatively, if the storm is very bad, sailors can perform a "heaving to" storm sailing maneuver.

To perform the heave-to storm sailing maneuver:

• Turn the bow of the boat into the wind : This involves turning the sailboat so that the bow faces into the wind. This will cause the boat to lose forward momentum and begin to drift backward
• Adjust the sails : Depending on the size and configuration of your boat, you may need to adjust the sails in different ways. In general, you will want to position the sails so that they are catching less wind and are working against each other. This will help to slow the boat's drift and keep it from moving too quickly
• Adjust the rudder : You may need to adjust the rudder to keep the boat from turning too far or too fast. In general, you will want to angle the rudder slightly to one side to counteract the wind and keep the boat on a stable course
• Monitor the boat's drift : Once you have heaved-to, you will need to monitor the boat's drift and make small adjustments as needed to maintain your position. This may involve adjusting the sails, rudder, or other factors as conditions change

The heaving to maneuver is used to reduce a sailboat's speed and maintain a stationary position. This is often done in rough weather to provide the crew with a stable platform to work from or to wait out a storm.

This sailing maneuver will adjust the sailboat and should stabilize the vessel in the storm.

The benefits of adjusting the sailboat position in a storm are it will help to stabilize the boat, it will improve safety, it will reduce the crew's fatigue as the crew will not be operating with a boat at higher speeds, it will help maintain control of the sailboat, and it will reduce stress on the sailboat and the rigging system.

Depending on the size of the sailboat, how bad the weather conditions are, and a sailor's experience level, adjusting the sailboat to stabilize it in the storm should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

4. Maintain Communication With The Coast Guard

The fourth step of sailing in a storm is to maintain communication with the coast guard.

This is particularly important if the storm is over Beaufort Force 7 when sailing is much harder.

To maintain communication with the coast guard during a storm:

• Understand the important VHF channels : During sailing in a storm, be aware of VHF international channel 16 (156.800 MHz) which is for sending distress signals
• Ensure there are coast guard contact details on your phone : Put the local coast guard contact details into your phone. These contact details are not substitutes for using the VHF channel 16 distress signal or dialing 911. These contact details should only be contacted if all else fails

Contacting the coast guard takes less than 1 minute to complete and they are fast to respond in case of an emergency caused by the storm.

The benefits of maintaining communication with the coast guard during a storm are it will help improve safety, the coast guard will be able to provide real-time alerts, and it will provide navigation assistance as the coast guard has access to the latest navigation technology and can guide you through the storm's hazardous areas such as shallow waters or areas with a strong current.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sailing In A Storm

Below are the most commonly asked questions about sailing in a storm.

What Should You Do If You're Caught Sailing In A Storm With Your Boat?

if you're caught sailing in a storm with your boat, you should reef the sails, attach the storm sails and tack the vessel slowly until the wave and wind direction are blowing from the stern of the sailboat.

Should You Drop An Anchor When Sailing In A Storm?

Dropping an anchor can be a useful technique to help keep a boat steady during a storm. However, whether or not to drop an anchor depends on a variety of factors including the size and type of the boat, the severity of the storm, the water depth, and the type of bottom (i.e., mud, sand, or rock).

If you are in a smaller boat that is being pushed around by the waves, dropping an anchor can help keep the boat oriented in a particular direction, reducing the boat's drift. Additionally, it can help reduce the risk of capsizing or being thrown onto a rocky shore.

However, if the storm is very severe with high winds and waves, the anchor may not be enough to hold the boat in place, and it may put undue stress on the anchor and the boat's attachment points. In such a case, it is usually better to try to navigate to a sheltered area or to deploy sea anchors that can help reduce the boat's drift.

It is also essential to be careful when anchoring in a storm as it can be challenging to set the anchor correctly and the wind and waves can cause the anchor to drag.

Is It Safe To Sail In A Storm?

Sailing in a storm should be avoided due to the lack of safety. However, experienced sailors can sail in storms up to Beaufort Force 7 if required. Beaufort Force 8 and higher storms are extremely dangerous to sail in and should be avoided at all costs.

How Do You Improve Safety When Sailing In A Storm?

To improve safety when sailing in a storm, wear a life jacket, hook everyone onboard up to a safety line or harness so they don't fall overboard, reef the sail to improve the sailboat's stability, and understand where all the safety equipment is onboard and how to operate it in case of an emergency.

What Type Of Storm Should Not Be Sailed In?

A sailor should not sail in any storm but especially a storm from Beaufort Force 8 to Beaufort Force 12 as it is considered to be too dangerous.

Can You Sail Through A Hurricane?

While sailors have successfully sailed through hurricanes in the past, sailing through a hurricane should be avoided at all costs. Sailing in hurricane weather is too dangerous and could result in loss of life.

What Are The Benefits Of Sailing In A Storm?

The benefits of sailing in a storm are:

• Improves sailing skills : Sailing in a storm will force sailors to improve their sailing skills and increase their ability to handle rough seas
• Exciting experience : For some sailors, the thrill of navigating through a storm can be an exhilarating experience that they enjoy. The adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment of successfully sailing through a storm can be incredibly rewarding
• Greater appreciation for the power of nature : Sailing in a storm can provide a unique perspective on the power of nature. It can be humbling and awe-inspiring to witness the raw force of the wind and waves and this can lead to a greater appreciation for the natural world

It's important to note that these potential benefits should never come at the expense of safety. For the majority of sailors, it is smarter to avoid sailing in a storm and instead wait for the bad weather to pass.

What Are The Risks Of Sailing In A Storm?

The risks of sailing in a storm are:

• Boat sinking/capsizing : With high winds over 28 knots and waves and swells at heights over 8ft, there is a risk of the sailboat capsizing and sinking
• People drowning : High winds and high waves during a storm can cause people onboard to fall overboard and drown
• Loss of communication : Bad storm weather can cause the sailboat's communication system to stop working making it much harder to signal for help if needed
• Boat damage : Storm weather can damage the boat including the sails, mast, rigging system, lines, Bimini top, etc.
• Poor visibility : Sea spray, large waves over 8ft, and heavy winds over 28 knots can reduce the visibility to under 500 meters in some instances making it difficult for navigation
• People being injured : People onboard can get injured due to the increase and sharp movements caused by the storm

What Should Be Avoided When Sailing In A Storm?

When sailing in a storm, avoid:

• Getting caught sailing in the storm in the first place : Ideally, a sailor should avoid sailing in the storm in the first place by checking the weather radar and instead wait for the weather to clear before continuing their sailing trip
• Increasing the sail area : Increasing the sail area in a storm should be avoided as it can cause the sailboat to become more unstable and increase the risk of capsizing
• Not wearing a life jacket : Life jackets should be worn at all times when sailing but especially during a storm. Avoid not wearing a life jacket in a storm as there is no protection if someone falls overboard
• Not wearing the appropriate gear to stay dry : Sailors should avoid not wearing the appropriate foul weather gear to stay dry when sailing in a storm
• Not connecting the crew to safety lines/harness : When sailing in a storm, all crew on the boat deck should be
• Not understanding the safety equipment : Sailors should avoid not understanding the safety equipment onboard

How Do You Avoid Sailing In A Storm?

To avoid sailing in a storm, check the weather forecast regularly when going on a sailing trip to know when and where not to sail as the weather gets worse in these areas. If a sailing trip involves passing through a storm, wait in an area where there is no storm until the weather clears up in the storm area before continuing on the voyage.

What Are The Best Sailboats For Sailing In A Storm?

The best sailboats for sailing in a storm are the Nordic 40, Hallberg-Rassy 48, and the Outremer 55.

What Are The Worst Sailboats For Sailing In A Storm?

The worst sailboats for sailing in a storm are sailing dinghies as they offer little protection from the dangers of stormy weather.

What Is The Best Sized Sailboat For Sailing In A Storm?

The best-sized sailboats to sail in a storm are sailboats sized 30ft. and longer.

What Is The Worst Sized Sailboat For Sailing In A Storm?

The worst-sized sailboats to sail in a storm are sailboats sized under 30ft. as it is more difficult to handle rough weather and choppy waves in these boats.

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Storm Tactics for Heavy Weather Sailing

• By Bill Gladstone
• Updated: November 15, 2021

Storm tactics can be roughly defined as the ways to handle a storm once you’re in it. There are several proven choices, all of which intend to keep either the bow or stern pointing toward the waves. No one tactic will work best for all sailboats in all conditions. As skipper, it will be up to you to consider the best approach for your vessel, procure the right equipment, and practice with it before it’s needed.

Here we look at some active storm options that might work when conditions are still manageable and you want to actively control and steer the boat. Crew fatigue is a serious consideration when using active tactics.

Forereaching

Although not often mentioned as a tactic, it can be highly effective for combating brief squalls or moderate-duration storms. Here’s how to set up your boat for forereaching: Roll the jib away (especially if you have a large roller-furler genoa set); reef the main down to the second or third reef position; and sail on a closehauled course, concentrating on keeping the boat flat. It will be a comfortable ride, everyone will be relatively happy, and you will be making 2 to 3 knots on a close reach. Check your course over ground because increased leeway will cause your track to be much lower. This is a possibly useful tactic to claw off a lee shore. Note that not all boats will be at ease forereaching, so you’d better experiment with it ahead of time. Catamarans in particular will lurch and demonstrate much-increased leeway.

Motorsailing

Sometimes it’s necessary from a time or safety perspective to stow the jib and fire up the iron genny instead. Motorsailing lets you point high and make progress to windward. Motoring with no sails will not work well (or at all, in some cases), particularly in big seas, but a reefed mainsail will provide lateral stability and extra power. Trim the main, head up high enough to control your angle of heel, set the autopilot, and keep a lookout. Fuel consumption makes this a short-term option.

Here’s a tip: Make sure cooling water is pumping through the engine. On some sailboats, the water intake lifts out of the water when heeled. A further difficulty is that the pitching boat might stir sediment off the bottom of the fuel tank, which can, in turn, clog the fuel filter.

Running off and drogues

Sailing under storm jib and a deeply reefed mainsail or storm trysail provides the most control. If you don’t have storm sails, a reefed jib will give you the power to steer and control your boat in the waves. The boat must be steered actively to maintain control because no autopilot will be able to do this.

If excessive speed is a problem and steering becomes difficult, towing a drogue will slow the boat. A retrieval line should be set from the head of the drogue for when it is time to bring it back on board. If you don’t have a drogue, trailing warps might help slow the boat.

In a storm of longer duration, or when conditions become otherwise unmanageable, the situation might call for a skipper to consider passive storm tactics. When you are exhausted and you just want to quiet down the boat and maybe get some rest, there are other boathandling options available, depending on the sea state and the ­equipment you have onboard.

Heaving to can be an excellent heavy-weather tactic, though some boats fare better than others. Wouldn’t it be great if during a heavy-weather episode you could just slow everything way down? Imagine a short respite with a reduced amount of motion from the relentless pitching and pounding. A chance to regroup, make a meal, or check over the boat. Well, you can.

Heaving to allows you to “park” in open water. Hove-to trim has the jib trimmed aback (that is, to the wrong side), the reefed main eased, and the helm lashed down to leeward. The easiest way to do this is to trim the jib sheet hard and then tack the boat, leaving the sheet in place. Trimmed this way, the jib pushes the bow down. As the bow turns off the wind, the main fills and the boat moves forward. With the helm lashed down, the rudder turns the boat toward the wind. As the main goes soft, the jib once again takes over, pushing the bow down. The main refills, and the rudder pushes the bow into the wind again.

RELATED: Safety at Sea: Mental Preparations Contribute to Positive Outcomes

Achieving this balance will require some fine-­tuning, depending on the wind strength, your boat design and the sails you have. You might, for example, need to furl the jib most of the way in to match the wind strength. Trimming the main will ensure that the bow is at an angle to the waves, ideally pointing 40 to 60 degrees off. Modern fin-keeled boats do not heave to as well as more-traditional full-keel designs.

When hove to, the boat won’t actually stop. It will lie, as noted, about 40 to 60 degrees off the wind, sailing at 1 or 2 knots, and making leeway (sliding to leeward). Beware of chafe. When hove to, the jib’s clew or sheet will be up against the shroud and might experience wear damage. Monitor this regularly, and change the position of the sheet occasionally. You might not want to heave to for an extended time.

Deploying a sea anchor

A sea anchor is a small parachute deployed on a line off the bow. A sea anchor helps keep the bow pointed up into the waves so the boat won’t end up beam to the seas. Light displacement boats will pitch violently in high seas, and chafe and damage might occur to the bow, so setting up a bridle and leading it aft through a snatch block will allow the boat to lie at an angle to the waves, providing a more comfortable ride. A big concern when using a sea anchor is the load on the rudder as the waves slam the boat backward. Chafe on the sea-anchor bridle is another big factor, so the bridle must be tended regularly.

Remember, if you and your vessel are caught out in heavy-weather conditions, as a skipper, you must show leadership by setting an example, watching over your crew, offering relief and help to those who need it, and giving encouragement. Remember too, discomfort and fear can lead to fatigue, diminished performance, and poor decision-making. Don’t compromise the safety of the boat and crew to escape discomfort.

Few people get to ­experience the full fury of a storm. Advances in weather forecasting, routing and communications greatly improve your odds of avoiding heavy weather at sea, but you’re likely to experience it at some point, so think ahead of time about the tactics and tools available to keep your crew and vessel safe.

Heavy weather might not be pleasant, but it is certainly memorable, and it will make you a better sailor. Take the time to marvel at the forces of nature; realize that the boat is stronger than you think.

Happy sailing, and may all your storms be little ones!

This story is an edited excerpt from the American Sailing Association’s recently released manual, Advanced Cruising & Seamanship , by Bill Gladstone, produced in collaboration with North U. It has been edited for design purposes and style. You can find out more at asa.com.

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Video shows moments before superyacht went down in storm off Sicily

Newly released video captures a luxury superyacht being battered by a violent storm before it suddenly sank off Sicily with 22 people aboard Monday.

The grainy images obtained by NBC News and other outlets were recorded on closed-circuit television not far from where the Bayesian was anchored, about a half-mile from the port of Porticello, on Sicily’s northern coast .

The yacht's 250-foot mast, illuminated with lights and lashed by the storm, appears to bend to one side before it finally disappears and is replaced by darkness.

The speed with which a yacht built to handle the roughest seas capsized stunned maritime experts.  

“I can’t remember the last time I read about a vessel going down quickly like that, you know, completely capsizing and going down that quickly, a vessel of that nature, a yacht of that size,” said Stephen Richter of SAR Marine Consulting.

British tech tycoon Mike Lynch and five of the 22 other people who were aboard the 184-foot vessel remain unaccounted for and are believed to be trapped in the Bayesian’s hull, nearly 170 feet underwater.

Officials confirmed Monday that at least one person, the ship’s cook, had died.  

Superyachts like the Bayesian, which had been available for charters at a rate of $215,000 a week, are designed to stay afloat even as they are taking on water to give the people aboard a chance to escape, Richter said. 

“Boats of this size, they’re taking passengers on an excursion or a holiday,” Richter said. “They are not going to put them in situations where it may be dangerous or it may be uncomfortable, so this storm that popped up was obviously an anomaly. These vessels that carry passengers, they’re typically very well-maintained, very well-appointed.”

Built by Italian shipbuilder Perini Navi in 2008, the U.K.-registered Bayesian could carry 12 guests and a crew of up to 10, according to online specialist yacht sites. Its nearly 250-foot mast is the tallest aluminum sailing mast in the world, according to CharterWorld Luxury Yacht Charters. 

On Tuesday, Italian rescue workers resumed the search for Lynch and the five other passengers still missing: Lynch’s 18-year-old daughter, Hannah; Morgan Stanley International Chairman Jonathan Bloomer and his wife; and Clifford Chance lawyer Chris Morvillo and his wife.

“The fear is that the bodies got trapped inside the vessel,” Salvatore Cocina, the head of civil protection in Sicily, told Reuters .

The Bayesian is owned by a firm linked to Lynch’s wife, Angela Bacares, who was one of the 15 people rescued Monday after it capsized.

“It’s extremely rare for a boat of this size to sink,” Richter said.

What’s not rare is the kind of storm that sank it , said Simon Boxall, senior lecturer in oceanography at Britain’s University of Southampton.

“People assume the Mediterranean is this rather calm and passive place that never gets storms and always blue skies,” Boxall said. “In fact, you get some quite horrendous storms that are not uncommon at this time of year.”

The president of Italy’s meteorological society has said Monday’s violent storm may have involved a waterspout, essentially a tornado over water, or a downburst, which occurs more frequently but doesn’t involve the rotation of the air.

Luca Mercalli, president of the Italian Meteorology Society, also said recent temperatures may have been a factor. 

“The sea surface temperature around Sicily was around 30 degrees Celsius [86 Fahrenheit], which is almost 3 degrees more than normal,” Mercalli told Reuters. “This creates an enormous source of energy that contributes to these storms.”

The Mediterranean sailing vacation was designed to be a celebration for Lynch, who two months ago was acquitted by a San Francisco jury of fraud charges stemming from the 2011 sale of his software company Autonomy to Hewlett-Packard for $11 billion.

Prosecutors alleged that Lynch, dubbed “Britain’s Bill Gates,” and Autonomy’s vice president for finance, Stephen Chamberlain, had padded the firm’s finances ahead of the sale. Lynch’s lawyers argued that HP was so eager to acquire Autonomy that it failed to adequately check the books .

Lynch had taken Morvill, who was one of his defense attorneys, on the luxury trip. 

Chamberlain was not on the Bayesian.

In what appears to be a tragic coincidence, a car struck and killed Chamberlain on Saturday as he was jogging in a village about 68 miles north of London, local police said.

“Steve fought successfully to clear his good name at trial earlier this year, and his good name now lives on through his wonderful family,” Chamberlain’s lawyer, Gary Lincenberg, said in a statement .

Henry Austin reported from London and Corky Siemaszko from New York City.

Henry Austin is a senior editor for NBC News Digital based in London.

Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital.

Video shows moment Bayesian superyacht sinks during ferocious storm off Sicilian coast

A new video obtained from cctv footage in porticello, facing the sea, shows the storm unfolding and the moment the bayesian went down. italian coast guard teams have located five victims since the yacht sank and continue to searched for one more missing person..

Video shows Bayesian yacht sinking in ferocious storm off Italian coast

Video footage obtained by Giornale Di Sicilia shows a view from Porticello, Sicily facing the sea as the storm unfolds and the moment the Bayesian superyacht went under the waves.

Video captured the power of the ferocious storm off the Sicilian coast responsible for sinking the Bayesian, a U.K.-flagged superyacht on Monday and claiming the lives of at least five people onboard.

The 180-foot yacht owned by Angela Bacares, wife of British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, was anchored off the coast of Porticello, near Palermo, when a severe thunderstorm quickly rolled in. According to the Italian Department of Civil Protection, rain and thunderstorms with strong wind gusts were forecast over parts of Sicily through the weekend. 

A new video from CCTV footage in Porticello, facing the sea, shows the storm unfolding and the moment the Bayesian went down. 

At the start of the 1-minute, 30-second clip, the bright and tall mast of the Bayesian is seen in the background, with smaller boats in the foreground. 

Lights of the Bayesian mast seen in the background as a storm unfolds in Porticello, Sicily on Aug. 19, 2024.

(GIORNALE DI SICILIA)

A few seconds into the video, the rain picks up. After 20 seconds, the wind is so ferocious that it can be heard howling on the video, and a torrential downpour obscures the view in front of the camera. By 1 minute, the lights of the ship’s mast are no longer visible.

Multiple Italian officials and news outlets have reported seeing a waterspout during the storm and when the Bayesian was in distress. 

Another video captured on CCTV from a cocktail bar in Porticello shows the violent storm tossing around patio furniture. Within a few minutes, strong gusts of wind and rain blew over plants, pushing tables and chairs from the camera's view.

Strong winds whip tables, chairs in Porticello during severe thunderstorm

CCTV footage from the BAIA bar in Porticello is time-stamped at just after 4 a.m. local time on Monday, around the same time when the Bayesian yacht sank and a strong storm passed through the area. 

The video from the Baia cocktail bar was recorded around 4 a.m. when the Bayesian was seen sinking off the coast.

Fifteen people were rescued from the sea. Five bodies have been recovered from the wreckage, one on the day of the storm and four more on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, Italian Coast Guard specialized teams were able to access the yacht, now 160 feet beneath the sea. Search crews were looking for the bodies of six people, including Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah. Two Americans and two Canadians are also among the missing. The bodies of the four people found on Wednesday have not been identified.

• Thunderstorms
• Extreme Weather

Must-see photos and video of tropical weather in the Wilmington area

The Wilmington area has seen the effects of a potential tropical cyclone Monday with more than 15 inches of rain in some places along with gusty winds and power outages.

It's the second storm of hurricane season to bring excessive rainfall following Tropical Storm Debby in August.

Here's more on the storm through photos and video.

Photos of Carolina Beach and Southport

By Monday afternoon, most if not all Carolina Beach roads were not safe for driving. The same could be said for many roads in Southport.

Southport officials were reporting extensive flooding in the city at the mouth of the Cape Fear River, with several roads overwashed and impassable. There also were numerous reports of flooding impacting homes.

At Carolina Beach, Mayor Lynn Barbee called for a state of emergency to enable additional resources for the area.

Photos throughout the area show impact

A number of roads throughout New Hanover, Brunswick and Pender counties were flooded by late Monday morning.

Power outages were also ticking up. 

According to Duke Energy’s outage map, as of noon major outages of more than 1,000 customers were reported in Castle Hayne and along Wilmington’s South College Road corridor between Pine Valley and Monkey Junction. 

STORM TRACKER: See the latest details on tropical developments

See water flow through Southport streets

By 11 a.m. Monday, the Southport Fire Department said on Facebook that it was experiencing high call volumes, vehicles in floodwaters and residences flooding.

Vehicles flooded at Carolina Beach

By midday Monday it was already difficult just to get out around Carolina Beach and survey flooding.

Flooding remains Tuesday

While Carolina Beach was accessible by Tuesday morning, several roads remain flooded, mostly around the lake.

Longtime Carolina Beach resident Evan Pye said, in the past, the town has drained Carolina Beach Lake when they knew a storm was coming . But for this storm, Pye said, many in the town were "blindsided."

Roads washed out in Brunswick

Several spots on U.S. 17 in Brunswick County were impassable by Monday afternoon, and many people waiting on the road were either detoured or stayed in their vehicles overnight.

While some roads have seen less flooding by Tuesday morning, others had sections washed away with no immediate timetable for repair.

Flood waters rushing at basin

By Monday afternoon, flooding was rampant in Carolina Beach, including around the yacht basin. Businesses were still cleaning up by Tuesday morning.

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Bayesian yacht sinking: Divers race to rescue Mike Lynch’s hard drive from boat’s safe on ocean floor

Italian prosecutors continue their investigation after divers recovered video equipment from the luxury yacht, article bookmarked.

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Divers are racing to retrieve Mike Lynch’s personal hard drives locked in a safe on the ocean floor, according to reports.

Italian newspaper la Repubblica reported that the tech billionaire, whose clients included MI5, the NSA and the Israeli secret service, didn’t trust confidential documents on the cloud and kept two encrypted hard drives in a safe which now lies 49 metres below sea level.

Investigators from Palermo said that no personal effects of the seven victims and 15 survivors have been recovered so far and that surveillance on the sailing ship continues 24 hours a day. They say the only hard drives brought to the surface are those of the ship.

An investigation into manslaughter is set to continue after specialist divers recovered video equipment that could explain how it sank.

Italian prosecutors will continue their probe after a source told Reuters Navy divers recovered parts of the deck , computer material, video surveillance systems, hard drives and various other equipment.

The electronic devices have been sent to specialised labs outside of Sicily to check their condition and possibly recover data, the source added.

Autopsies reveal cause of death of US lawyer and wife onboard Mike Lynch’s superyacht

Autopsies have been carried out on a couple who drowned on Mike Lynch’s superyacht when it sank off the coast of Sicily last month.

Seven lives were lost when the British-flagged boat, called the Bayesian, went down in a freak storm while anchored near the Sicilian capital of Palermo on 19 August.

Seven lives were lost when the the yacht Bayesian, belonging to British tech tycoon Mike Lynch, capsized off the coast of Sicily

Darktrace to be taken over after Mike Lynch’s death

Darktrace shares are set to stop trading publicly at the end of September, after the company set a timetable for its blockbuster private equity takeover to be completed.

The private equity group Thoma Bravo struck an almost 5.31 billion dollar (£4.3 billion) deal to buy Darktrace in April.

Darktrace AI interrupts in-progress cyber-attacks in seconds, including ransomware, email phishing, and threats to cloud environments.

It marks one of the biggest take-private deals for a London-listed company in recent years, and will see Darktrace leave the FTSE 100 on October 1.

Poppy Gustafsson helped to set up the Cambridge-based company in 2013 alongside Autonomy founder Mike Lynch.

Mr Lynch, and his daughter Hannah, were among seven people to die after the Bayesian superyacht sank off the coast of Sicily last month.

Bodies flown back to UK on private planes - report

The bodies of Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 18, and the other victims of the Bayesian disaster have been flown back to their families after their post-mortems, according to reports.

They were repatriated on private planes, with their private funerals expected to be held over the coming days, Italian media reports.

The British tech tycoon ’s boat had been moored near the port of Porticello on 19 August when it sank during the early hours of the morning . It is now lying 50m below the surface.

Among those killed were Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who had been due to begin studying at Oxford University in September, as well as four other family friends and associates .

Jonathan Bloomer, the international chairman of Morgan Stanley Bank; his wife Judith, a psychotherapist; Christopher Morvillo, a US lawyer; and his wife Neda, a jewellery designer also died in the sinking.

Also killed was the yacht’s chef, Recaldo Thomas, whose body was recovered floating near the wreckage.

Four victims found with carbon dioxide in lungs

Tech billionaire Mike Lynch, his daughter Hannah, 18, and five other people died when the Bayesian went down in a downburst, which is similar to a small tornado.

Chef Recaldo Thomas, Jonathan Bloomer, the Morgan Stanley International bank chairman, his wife Judy, and Chris Morvillo, a Clifford Chance lawyer, and his wife Neda, were the other victims of the August 19 tragedy.

Four of the victims are feared to have suffocated to death in air bubbles that filled with carbon dioxide, according to their autopsies raising the frightening possibility that they may have been conscious after the yacht sank, according to Italian news outlet La Republica.

Fifteen people, including Angela Bacares, Lynch’s wife, survived when they were rescued by a nearby yacht.

Mike Lynch’s yacht was ‘unsinkable’, says boss of company who built boat

Giovanni Costantino, the chief executive of the Italian Sea Group, said there are no flaws with the design and construction of the Bayesian and it is “one of the safest boats in the world”.

The Bayesian, a 184-ft superyacht carrying 22 passengers and crew, was anchored off the port of Porticello, near Palermo, when it disappeared beneath the waves in a matter of minutes after a freak tornado struck.

“The ship sank because it took on water, from where investigators will have to say,” Mr Costantino told television news programme TG1.

He suggested that the sinking was down to a series of human errors.

The CEO said that had the crew shut all doors and hatches, turned on the engine, lifted the anchor, lowered the keel and turned the yacht to face the wind, they would have suffered “zero damage”.

He added that data showed it took 16 minutes from when the wind began for it to sink.

Cartoisio said the tragedy will be even more painful if the sinking was caused by “behaviours that were not aligned to the responsibilities that everyone needs to take in shipping”.

Bodies of Mike Lynch and daughter Hannah flown back to families after Bayesian superyacht sinking

The bodies of those who died after the billionaire Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht sunk off the coast of Sicily have been flown back to their families by private jet.

Italian publication Giornale di Sicilia reported post-mortem examinations were completed at a Palermo hospital and the bodies have now been returned.

My colleague Tom Watling reports:

Bodies of Mike Lynch and daughter flown back to UK after Bayesian tragedy

Italian media reports the bodies have been returned to their families via private jet

Captain gives his account of tragic sinking

Captain James Cutfield previously gave his terrifying account before invoking his right to remain silent.

According to Correire, he told prosecutors: “Seaman Griffiths came to wake me up and told me that there were 20 knots of wind.

“I looked at the instruments and indeed that was the case. I went out immediately and asked them to warn everyone because I didn’t like the situation.”

He said the Bayesian tilted 45 degrees “and remained like that for a bit and then suddenly fell to the right.

“We were catapulted into the sea”.

Seaman Matthew Griffiths, 22, said: “We somehow climbed back up to the bridge and tried to form a human chain to save those who managed to reach that gap from the accommodation deck ... they were struggling on the walls because the boat was lying in the water.

“The first in the chain was the captain who stretched down. He helped everyone, the ladies, the mother with the little girl ... But we were sinking and unfortunately some didn’t make it .”

Mr Griffiths joins fellow Brit Tim Parker-Eaton, 56, and Kiwi skipper James Cutfield, 51, on the official list of those being formally investigated for shipwreck and multiple manslaughter.

Being investigated does not equate to being charged and is a procedural step.

Professor fears more deaths by ‘medicanes’ after Bayesian tragedy

Professor Yoav Yair, Dean of the School of Sustainability at Reichman University in Israel, told the Mirror that storms dubbed ‘medicanes’ - Mediterranean hurricanes - could cause similar sinkings like the Bayesian superyacht.

He said: “It is not a matter of if this (the Bayesian disaster) will happen again, but rather it’s when and where.

“In the last couple of years we have seen medicanes - which are a new phenomena. These are hurricane-like storms that pack a lot of energy, and create flash flooding, torrential rains, lightning, hail and severe sustained winds. The 2023 “Daniel” medicane destroyed Libya and caused over 30,000 deaths there.

“The sea surface temperature has risen globally and in the Med as well, charging the atmosphere with increased fluxes of water vapor, which means a higher potential for massive storms.”

Seven key unanswered questions around the sinking of the Bayesian

With the Bayesian lying on her side 50 metres underneath the now gentle waters of the Mediterranean, mystery still surrounds how the 56-metre superyacht, sank in the typhoon off the port of Porticello.

Remotely controlled underwater vehicles and cave divers are looking to raise the yacht , which experts will examine in the coming days.

The key unanswered questions around the tragic sinking of the Bayesian

With the search continuing of the sunken Bayesian an investigation has been launched to establish what caused the disaster off the coast of Sicily

Italian navy recover video equipment

Italian Navy divers have recovered video surveillance equipment from the wreckage of billionaire Mike Lynch’s Bayesian superyacht that could explain how it sank.

The British tech tycoon’s boat had been moored near the port of Porticello on 19 August when it sank during the early hours of the morning. It is now lying 50m below the surface.

Among those killed were Mr Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, who had been due to begin studying at Oxford University in September, as well as four other family friends and associates.

Divers hunting for clues on how Mike Lynch’s superyacht sank make discovery

The video equipment recovered could show if the crews left doors open on the Bayesian superyacht, which might have allowed the vessel to flood

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Rare weather event dumps a foot of rain in North Carolina in 12 hours: See photos, video

Parts of southeastern North Carolina experienced life-threatening flash flooding Monday as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight brought rain totals not seen in hundreds of years, according to weather officials.

The Wilmington area received more than 15 inches of rain in some places, along with gusty winds and power outages, while the towns of Carolina Beach, Boiling Springs Lakes and Southport received more than a foot of rain in the first 12 hours of Monday, a weather event the National Weather Service in Wilmington happens on average once every 200 years.

The 18-plus inches that dropped on Carolina Beach in about 12 hours occurs "once every 1000 years!'' the office said.

The North Carolina Department of Transportation exhorted people in affected areas to avoid driving if possible on Monday,  posting a photo  of a collapsed and mostly submerged section of a street in Southport as the storm flooded dozens of roads.

The system, known as Potential Tropical Cyclone Eight, is  forecast to move north across the Carolinas toward the Mid-Atlantic  over the next day or so, according to the NWS, with "persistent showers and thunderstorms" expected across portions of North Carolina and the southern Mid-Atlantic on Tuesday, and locally heavy rainfall could result in "isolated to scattered instances of flash flooding."

Flood watches are in effect Tuesday for portions of southeastern Virginia and North Carolina, with precipitation coverage and density expected to decrease on Wednesday.

"By Thursday, this system will begin to shift offshore into the Atlantic and high pressure will build behind it," the NWS said Tuesday morning.

Storm tracker: Storm dumps heavy rain in NC, Gordon could re-intensify into tropical storm

Photos of flooding aftermath in North Carolina

Contributing: John Bacon and Thao Nguyen, USA TODAY

Gabe Hauari is a national trending news reporter at USA TODAY. You can follow him on X  @GabeHauari  or email him at [email protected].