Safeguard against heavy weather

When heavy weather threatens, take steps to safeguard your boat’s passengers; they all depend on you. Make sure everyone is wearing a life jacket. Ensure that everyone has a properly sized and adjusted life jacket. Take special care with children.

If it’s cold outside, make sure everyone has appropriate warm, waterproof clothing. If it’s dark out, make sure each life jacket has a battery-operated light or strobe attached high on the vest. If your life jackets don’t have this and you will be traveling at night, add them.

If you have a safety harness, prepare it for use. Talk to your passengers and assure them that you have the situation under control. If you think you will need anyone’s assistance, tell them what you expect them to do and under what circumstances. If things get rough and wild, panic and confusion are the last things you want on board. Dispense seasick tablets if you suspect seasickness might be a problem. Get everyone below who is not absolutely needed topside.

Next, break out all the gear you might need later; this could include anchors, hand pumps and flashlights. Make sure you have plenty of line to run out on your storm anchor. Close and secure all hatches, windows and ports. If you already have water in your bilge, pump it out. When your boat starts rocking and rolling, shifting water will make it worse.

Make sure you know where you are. Check your position and update your chart. While you are looking at the chart, note the nearest sheltered areas if you are near shore. Consider making a run for safe haven before the storm makes that impossible.

Once you are in the storm’s fury, exercise all your heavy-weather seamanship skills. Run at an angle to the waves, post lookouts, and take advantage of everything you’ve learned about dealing with bad weather.

Your success in facing heavy weather and rough seas are directly related to the degree of preparation taken. –Dan Fortman