2019 LOOR Racing Guide

Page 56 Lake Ontario Offshore Racing Guide
Preparing for the storm
Preparations for the storm will vary depending on the type of boat you have,
the equipment on board, the conditions and duration of the storm, your
and the crew’s skills and experience, as well as your position in the water,
whether near or off-shore. The following suggestions are based on storms
that last around one to two hours.
If the thunderstorm or squall is small, and you see it early enough on radar
via your smartphone app, you may be able to estimate the storm’s speed
and direction, giving you a chance to change course in time to escape.
One of the most common ways to get ready ahead of severe weather is to
drop or reef your sails well before the possibility of sudden high wind arises.
It’s better to do this as early as possible - don’t wait until the boat is heeled
over to make this decision. Once you have dropped the sails, start the boat’s
engine and leave it in neutral so you are ready to go should you need to motor
directly into the wind and waves during the worst of the storm. This will give
you maximum control of the vessel. Sailing or, in this case, motoring, bow-on
into the waves is your best defense in a high-wind situation. Make sure to
avoid positioning your vessel beam-on to the waves.
Another option is to heave-to. This is a way to stall the boat while pointing
it at an angle into the wind and waves. Practice this maneuver on really
windy days so that you get familiar with it and you know exactly how
your boat will respond when placed in this position. Heaving-to is much
safer than simply dropping the sails, locking the tiller to leeward and
drifting, which is called lying ahull.
Faced with an oncoming storm, you also have the option to reef your sails
and prepare to run off. By doing this, you are running downwind and down
the waves in a controlled manner.
If you have enough time before the storm hits, look for a sheltered area to
drop anchor. Secure the boat and hunker down until the severe weather passes.
And, of course, don’t forget the basics. Make sure everyone onboard is
wearing a personal floatation device (PFD). Any crew on deck should also be
wearing a harness and tether. Turn on your navigation lights and take note
of your current position. Tune your radio to the marine weather band and
pay attention to any update on the approaching storm. Remember, as the
captain, it’s your job to always be thinking ahead and preparing for all
possible situations, including man overboard, a direct lightning strike, or
the loss of all onboard electronics.
Tools of the trade
These days your smartphone is one of the most useful tools at your disposal.
Apps specifically geared towards the mariner offer assistance and information
on navigation, anchoring, safety, sail trim, weather forecasts and much more.
These apps are powerful additions to your sailing kit.
Thunderstorms and squalls generally show up quite vividly on radar, allowing