Dedication

Storms at Sea

Heavy-Weather Games

Illustrations

Interview Format

Keys to Success in Heavy Weather

Perspective

Acknowledgments

Rig Options

Heaving To

Hitting the Wall

Postscript

Fleet Departure

Minerva Reefer's Yacht Club

A Stitch in Time

Back at the Yacht Club

Squash Zone Potential

Low Pressure Deepens

Slowing Down

Aboard Never Monday

Motorsailing Aboard Wings

Conditions Along the Way

Passage Tactics

Lessons Learned

Preparing to Go to Sea

The Rumor Mill

Options at 200 Miles per Day

Passaging Logic

Tropical Depression to the North

Getting Ready for a Blow

Seascape from Hell

Departure from Tonga

First Three Days at Sea

Cold Front

Landfall on a Lee Shore

Weather Logic

Professional Forecasts

In Retrospect

Problems Begin

Navigational Difficulties

Anchoring Off a Lee Shore

Key Conditions

Contributing Factors

Departure from Australia

Capsize

Key Conditions

Contributing Factors

Opinions and Recommendations

500mb Warning Signs

Weather Issues

Deploying a Parachute Anchor

Knockdown

Activating the EPIRB

Company

More Knockdowns

Helicopter Rescue

Rescue Coordination

Broken Motor Mount

Using a Sea Anchor

Attempted Rescue

New Zealand Maritime Safety Report

Thoughts from Mike Fritz

Watching the Weather

Signs of a Front

Setting the Trysail

Adding Sail

Weather Rhythms

Using Historical Data

Squash Zones

Regional Idiosyncrasies

Sea State

Bomb Potential

Computer Modeling

Surface Synoptic Charts

November and

Bent Back Warm Fronts

Helicopter Pilot Comments

Bob McDavitt's Comments

Sea State

Dynamic Fetch Possibilities

500mb Analysis

Future Plans

Preparing for a Rollover

Clear the Decks

Extra Lashings

Life Raft Security

Storm Windows

Center of Gravity

Windage

Securing the Interior

Chafe

Pump Issues

General Maintenance

Fuel

Oil

Vulnerability to Flooding

V-Belts

Shaft Coupling

Stuffing Box

Propeller

Quadrant

Sheaves

Steering Cables

Rudder Bearings and Shaft Seal

Attachment

Steering Chain

Emergency Steering

Rig Check

Roller-Furling

Booms

At the Beginning of Your Watch

Handholds

Importance of the Cutter Stay

Lifeline Systems

Sydney-Hobart Data

Seattle Sailing Foundation Tests

In the Water

Harness Construction

Tethers

Jacklines

Nature Abhors a Vacuum

The Weather Deteriorates

Water in Our Seaboots!

The Barometer Plummets

Sea State

Lessons Learned

Heaving To

Wind Speed and Angle

Understanding Use of Storm Canvas

Sail Combinations

Sizing Storm Sails

The Scientific Approach

Do You Need a Trysail?

Trysail Attachment

Securing the Main Boom

Carol Hasse of Port Townsend Sails

Sailcloth

Storm Jib Design

Storm Canvas

Trysail Design

Edge Details

Hardware

Deeply Reefed Mainsails

Gale Sail

Using Roller-Furled Working Sails

Heavy Weather Running

Back to Theta Volantis

Riding Sails

Sail/Hull Balance and Steering Loads

Powerboat Steering

Sailboat Broaches

Powerboat Broaches

Windvane or Autopilot?

Windvane Technique

Using an Autopilot

Knockdown

Stepping Up into the Raft

Small Raft

Larger Raft

When to Use

Secure Storage

Launching

Physical Conditioning

Just How Bad Is the Weather?

Mal de Mer

Pre-Cooked Meals

Rest

Where to Sleep

Safety Concerns

Sail Inventory

Boatspeed Preparation

Sail Trim

How Hard Should You Push?

Using the Engine

Timing Landfalls

Weather Tactics and Passage Times

Local Meteorology

You Can't Rush the Weather

Navigational Constraints

Weather Tactics If You're Caught

Outside vs. Onboard Forecasting

The Weather Puzzle

Tropical Lows

Tropical to Extratropical Transition

Compression Zones

Warm Ocean Currents

Secondary Lows

Upper Level Troughs

Bent Back Warm Fronts

Local Compression Zones

Hurricanes vs. Extratropical Storms

Coastal Passages

Long-Term Rhythms

Pilot Charts

Tropical Storms

Weather Service Conundrum

Weather Closure Speed

Finding the Storm Center

Surface Wind Fields

Extratropical Storm Tracks

Extratropical Weather Tactics

Frontal Passage

Tropical Weather Tactics

Tropical Storm Tracks

Weather Sense

Miles Smeeton

Down to Bare Poles

Frontal Passage

Pitchpole

Whitecaps

Wave Shape

Wave Speed

As Waves Travel

Wave and Wind Direction

When the Wind Drops

Sea Bottom Impact

Waves

Undersea Features

Internal Waves

Current

Breaking Crests

Waves

Low-Pressure Waves

Secondary Wave Systems

Compression Zone Waves

Fetch

Short Duration Winds Wave Data

Long-Term Winds Wave Data

Calculating Swell Origin

Troughs

Significant Wave Height

What Are the Chances of Getting Caught?

Rapidly Accelerating Storm Systems

Wave Fronts

Weatherfax Warnings

Leading Indicators

Hurricane Danielle

Avoidance Tactics

Dangerous Storm Sector

Surface Fax Charts

500mb Data

Cruising Considerations

Crew Background

Particulars

The Start

Romping Down the Coast

Just Your Average Sort of Storm

Trysail

Let's Not Do Anything Stupid

Hurricane-Force Winds

Steering Technique

Watch System

Tacking for Shelter

Reaching Off

Mayday on the Radio

Lessons Learned

Roger Badham Analysis

Clare Richards

Surface Wind Fields

Satellite Imagery

Weather Lessons

During the Storm

During the Storm

Emergency Procedures

Anticipating the Storm

Capsized

Storm Center

Second Knockdown

Conditions Prior to the Storm

Man-Overboard Recovery Attempt

Conditions Prior to the Storm

Conditions During the Storm

Rollover

Second Roll

Second Front

Knockdown

Understand Your Vessel

Watch Weather Trends

Water Temperature

Frontal Passages

When the Wind Drops

Changing Sea State

Correct Tack

The Right Boatspeed

Knockdowns

Capsize

Balancing Hull and Rig

Proper Angle

Being Caught Aback

If You've Been Running Off

Sail Plan

Practicing

When Do You Heave To?

Southwesterly Gale

In the Aghulas Current

Lunchtime

Optimal Speed

Variables

Hobby-Horsing

Sea Shape

How Much Sail Do You Carry?

Arrangement of Sail Area

Using Weather Helm

Sheeting Angles

Playing Frontal Wind Shifts

Tacking

Heel Effect

Upwind Sailing Technique

Sail Trim

Beating in Survival Storms

Engine Considerations

Prop Type and Location

Safety Issues

Active Steering in Breaking Crests

Real World Examples

Sea State and Wind Conditions

Early Tactics

Using the Engine

Final Thoughts

Picking the Correct Speed

Sail Plan

Wave Characteristics

Deep Troughs

Picking the Best Course

Running Off

Crew Capability

Lee Shores

Broaching

Keeping Speed Up

Yacht-Specific Considerations

Steering Techniques at Higher Speeds

Steering at Slow Speeds

Jibing

Steering through Wave Crests

Weighing the Odds

The Dangers

Erik LeRouge

Lorient to Canary Islands

Heavy Weather Suggestions

Multihull Issues

Wind Risks

Sail Area

Wave Shape

Speed and Angle Downwind

Optimal Beating Angles

Reducing Power

Heaving to

Passive Tactics

Boat Size

Capsize Mechanics

Capsize Preparation

Queen's Birthday Storm

Understanding Variables

Defining the Problem

Steering Control

Tactical Options

Seas on the Beam

Vulnerability

Working around Breaking Crests

Running Off

Running in Breaking Seas

Broaching

Helming Technique

Speed Settings

Maintaining Situational Awareness

Turning into the Seas

Heading into the Wind

Upwind Speed

Working the Throttles

Optimal Wave Angle

Planing Boats

Design Factors

Throttle Technique

Planing Hull Tactics

The Odds Are in Your Favor

Stay Alert and Adapt

Avoid Being Broadside

Always Continue the Fight

Frontal Passage

Bow- or Stern-To?

Boatspeed and Wave Impact

Rudder Vulnerability

Locking the Rudder on Center

Practice

Wave Particle Motion

Commercial Products

Bights of Line

Catching the Boat

Freya Parachute Anchor Analysis

What Caused the Knockdown?

Rode Implications

Mooring Comparisons

Reducing Knockdown Risks

Parachute Anchor Choices

Rode Solutions

Rope Selection

The Pardey Bridle

Rode Length

Parachute Size and Strength

Practice

Multihulls and Parachute Anchors

Heavy-Weather Trials

Maintaining Directional Control

Initial Test Results

Test Results Analysis

Offshore Applications

Offshore Conclusions

Storm Preparation

The Barometer Drops

Rigging the Parachute Anchor

Retrieval

Second Thoughts

Using a Parachute Anchor

Using the Jordan Series Drogue

Getting Pooped

Thoughts on Parachute Anchors

First Use of Parachute Anchor

Reports of a Tropical Storm

Tropical Storm Center

Second Use of Parachute Anchor

Hurricane Steering Technique

Knockdown

Hurricane Eye

Damage Assessment

Remaining Options

Hindsight

Rig Over the Side

Using Warps

Delivery Lessons

In Heavy Weather

Parachute Anchors

The Californian

Heaving To

Running Before a Storm

Delivery Experience

Heaving To in Light-Displacement Yachts

In Extreme Conditions

Losing Your Rig

Bermuda Hurricane

Heavy Weather Experience

Small Boat Tactics

BOC Tactics

Weather Routing

Upwind Destinations

Running Off

Using a Parachute Anchor

Erik LeRouge on Monohulls

Aldernay Race Stories

Red Magnum

Apocalypse

Heavy-Weather Experience

Sebago

Transfer to a Tug

Bonafacio

Heavy-Weather Philosophy

Approach with Production Multihulls

Biggest Lesson

Vagrant

Towards Christmas Island

Wake Island

Heavy-Weather Tactics

Heavy Weather Philosophy

Cruising Multihulls

Tactics

When It Really Gets Bad

Delivery to Hawaii

La Baule-Dakar Race

Drogues and Sea Anchors

Adventure Sailing

Heavy-Weather Philosophy

Nirvana

Design Issues

UK to Norway

Commercial Stories

Cruising Considerations

Commodore Explorer

Cape Horn

The Variables

Multihull Considerations

Tactics

1 Ensenada Race

Weather "Analysis"

ORCA

Working the Beach

Weather Front

Mickey Muñoz

Post Mortem

Single-Handed Storm Tactics

Weather Analysis

Most Dangerous Period

Giovanni Soldini

J.P. Mouligne

Mike Garside

Brad Van Liew

Victor Yazykov

Minuro Saito

Neil Petersen

Neil Hunter

The "Easy" Way Around

Weather Data

Sea State

Low Pressure Tactics

Capsized

New Zealand Pacific

Rescue Cycle

Epilogue

Staying Aboard

Reducing Rollover Risk inside the Boat

Alignment with the Waves

Raft Launching Considerations

Abandon-Ship Bag

Raft Capsize Risks

Righting a Capsized Raft

Staying with the Raft

Running with a Gale

Knockdown

Rescue Procedure

Putting to Sea

Storm-Force Winds

In the Dinghy

The Next Time

What Is Your Position?

Using SSB

Using VHF

Losing Radio Antennae

Keeping Electronics Dry

EPIRBs

Relying on Official Sources

Alternate Approaches

Silver Shadow

Lessons

Monowai

Being Seen

Lifting off the Deck

Eendracht

Helicopter Rescue

The Pilot's Perspective

Rescue Swimmer's Perspective

Reg Ellwood's Comments

Risks

Relative Positions

Climbing Nets

Breaches Buoy

Life Rings

Small -Boat Transfer

Background

Weather

The Race

Design Issues

Life Raft Lessons

Storm Tactics Debate

Windswept

Steering Control

Hull Balance

Beam-to-Length Ratios

Keels

Rudders

Rudder/Propeller Relationship

Limit of Positive Stability

Skidding vs. Tripping

Cockpit Layout

Cockpit Drains

Heeled Flotation

Knockdown Mechanics Recap

Sorcery

Galaway Blazer

Absorbing Wave Impact

Improving Your Odds

Storage in a Knockdown

Intermezzo II

Norfolk, Virginia

Beating South

Frontal Band on the Radar

Working the Beach

Steering Technique

Knockdown

Lessons for the Future

Blackjack

What Heavy Weather?

Roller-Furling

Storm Canvas

Design Features

The Hermans

Towards the West Indies

Using the Jordan Series Drogue

Size

Displacement

Wing Clearance

Beam

Hull Buoyancy

Vertical Center of Gravity

Lateral Plane

Hull Design Issues

Limit of Stability

Powering Capability

Watertight Integrity

Station Holding Systems

Moving About

Using the Head

Furniture Details

Knockdown and Rollover Issues

Handholds

Cooking

Keel Attachment

Rudder Integrity

Rudder Stop System

Emergency Tiller Loads

Rig Integrity

Dropping off a Wave

Rollover Loads

Cockpit Structure

Companionways

Hatches and Windows

Background

Biscay Gale

Range of Stability

Weather Issues

Survival

Comments on the Ocean Madam

Offshore Compromises

Boatbuilding "Shortcuts"

Non-Structural Liners and Pans

Leaving Hanalei

Missing Keel

Calling the Coast Guard

Improving Stability

Tropical Storm Bruce

Stress

Knowledge and Preparation

Design

Preparation

Severe Gale in Needles Channel

Lessons

English Channel Gale

Comment

General Thoughts

Priorities

Staying Away from Storms

Weather Tactics within Storms

Maintenance

Heavy-Weather Design

Boat Size

Rollover Preparation

Storm Canvas

Drogues and Parachutes

Safety Harnesses

Emergency Communications

EPIRBs

Life Rafts

Abandoning Ship

Alignment with the Waves

Which Storm Tactic?

Mental and Physical Conditioning

Staying Ahead of the Sea

Recovering from Emergencies

The Marine Industry

Go For It Now