Heavy weather sailing — lessons from a Biscay crossing

Seamanship & Safety
1

I got caught in a Force 8 crossing Biscay a few years back and I thought I’d share what I learned, since it changed my approach to heavy weather preparation completely.

The forecast was for F5-6, manageable for a well-prepared boat. But it built to F8 gusting 9 overnight and we were committed — nowhere to go but through it.

What worked:

  • Reefing early. We put the third reef in before dark, which turned out to be essential. Trying to reef in 40 knots at night would have been dangerous.
  • Hove to. When it got really bad, we hove to for four hours. The boat was comfortable and we could rest.
  • Lee cloths and handholds. Having the lee cloths rigged and knowing every handhold on the boat was crucial.
  • Hot food and drinks. We’d prepared thermos flasks of soup and coffee before it got rough. Made a huge difference to morale.

What I’d do differently:

  • Jordan Series Drogue. I’ve since invested in one. Heaving to works in most conditions but in really extreme weather, a drogue gives you options.
  • Better communication plan. Our satellite phone was our only link and the battery was running low. Now I carry a backup.

Anyone else have heavy weather stories to share?

2

This is the kind of experience report that saves lives. I always tell my students: heavy weather seamanship is 90% preparation and 10% execution. Your thermos tip is spot on — keeping energy and morale up is half the battle. Cold, hungry, tired crew make bad decisions.

3

Great post James. I had a similar experience in the Strait of Bonifacio between Corsica and Sardinia — the acceleration zones there are notorious. The wind went from 15 to 35 knots in about ten minutes. Your point about reefing early is so important. The saying is true: if you’re thinking about reefing, you should already have done it.

4

We get some proper blows here in winter — the northerlies can come down through the Tramuntana mountains and hit 50+ knots in the channel between Mallorca and Menorca. I’ve been caught out in my Bavaria and she handles it well, but it’s not enjoyable. Reefing early is everything.