• Batten down (secure) your boat. Close
all hatches and ports to avoid flooding.
Stow all loose gear. If you are in a sailboat,
reduce the area of your sails by reefing or
change to smaller sails. The wind in thunderstorms
can be extreme and unpredictable.
If you are in a sailboat change to
smaller sails “or drop sails completely.”
• Dress appropriately to avoid exposure
and hypothermia.
• Make sure your best helmsman is steering
the boat. Meet the waves at the most
advantageous speed and angle for your
boat under existing conditions. In most
circumstances, it is best to steer the boat
to meet the waves at about a 45 degree
angle off the bow.
• Only experimentation will determine the
correct crossing angle for your hull; the
angle will vary with sea conditions. Take
special care when you are required to take
waves on the stern or broadside.
• Find the best speed for controlling your
boat. Reduced speed will decrease steering
control. Selecting the correct speed requires
practice and will vary with conditions.
• In a small boat, seat your passengers in
the bottom of the boat, as close to the
centerline as possible.
• Check for water in the bilge; pump it as
often as required to keep it dry. Water is
heavy and affects boat stability.
• Always know where you are and the location
of the closest safe harbor. Choose the
safest course—it may not be the shortest
route! Always steer away from hazardous
ground.
• It may be necessary to ride out a storm at
anchor. An anchor rode scope of at least
7 to 1 should be used and the rode protected
with chafing gear. Anchoring will
normally keep your bow into the wind.
Handling Waves
in Heavy Seas
If at sea, seek a region of lesser chop, avoid
breaking waves. This may mean seeking
deeper water away from shore. Beware of
locations where current and winds oppose
each other. This causes high, pointed waves.
Check local and distant weather forecasts
frequently. Distant storms and hurricanes
produce fast-moving swells.
Wind produces waves. Waves will
affect both the forward movement of the
boat and its steering. Seas striking the forward
section of the boat tend to decrease its
speed through the water. Waves coming up
astern can increase speed in short bursts. A
boat drifting without power broaches, turning
broadside into the waves, resulting in a
chance of capsizing. A helmsman must continuously
adjust steering to stay on course
(Figure 11-15).
Crossing Large Waves
Wakes are waves. Alert your crew when
you see a wake approaching. Minimize
the effect by reducing speed and turning
into the waves at the proper angle for your
boat. An unexpected wave can toss people
around—even overboard.
Take large waves at an angle rather
than head-on (Figure 11-13). This effectively
lengthens the distance between crests
and lowers the slope. The angle depends
on the boat. Oncoming waves will tend to
130 Chapter Three
Figure 11-12. Squall line
thunderstorm
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