Full Description
The essential pocket guide to preparing for and coping with storms and heavy weather conditions at sea.
Sailing in high winds and large waves is a daunting prospect for almost all sailors. Preparation of boat and crew is the key to surviving a storm. This handy aid-memoire contains the essentials of how to prepare, what to expect and what to do if you encounter severe conditions at sea.
Highly experienced sailor and former Commodore of Ocean Cruising Club, Martin Thomas describes the best tactics and techniques to use as the storm escalates, from shortening sail to running before the storm, as well as how and when to seek refuge. Should the vessel suffer a calamity, for instance a dismasting, man overboard or sinking, this book informs the skipper and crew how to manage any crisis.
Each topic is broken down into digestible colour-coded sections and can be consulted in haste. There are succinct explanations and clear diagrams to help a crew survive if caught out in bad weather. This ideal quick-reference guide will boost your confidence and help you to be prepared.
Contents
Introduction: preparation and anticipation
1 The Boat
Choice of boat
-Coastal voyages
-Ocean passages
-Shallow waters
-High Latitudes
Boat preparation
The vessel
-Hull
-Alarms
-Companionway & washboards
-Lockers
-Hatches
-Jackstays and tethers
-Stowage
-Bilge pumps
-Engine
Rigging and sails
-Removable inner forestay
-Headsails and storm jib
-Reefed mainsail
-Trysail & deep reefed mainsail
Safety Equipment
-Liferaft
-Lifejackets
-Flares
-Fire extinguishers
-Man overboard retrieval
Drogues
-Single drogues
-Series drogues
-Drogue attachment points
2 The Crew
Choice of crew
Food
Warmth
Watch system
Crew quarters
3 The Voyage
Plan
Charts & navigation
Weather & forecasting
Communications
4 When rough weather approaches
The boat
The crew
5 Storm Tactics
Apparent wind
Wind and waves
Lee shore
Shortening sail
Sailing off the wind
Heaving-to
Lying a' hull
Running before the storm
Sea anchors
Drogues
Chafe
6 Seeking Refuge
Anchoring
Mooring
Lying alongside
Entering harbour
7 Calamities at Sea
Loss of steering
Crew overboard
Dismasting
Fire
Capsize
Holed vessel
Sinking vessel
Calling for help
Abandoning ship
Glossary
Index
