Based on a lengthy career as a yacht delivery skipper, (though quite a few decades past :>) I might make a couple of suggestions.. Especially when alone on watch, use two straps to hank yourself to the boat, one very short, this will anchor yourself in place and avoid being thrown across the cockpit onto something hard.. like a winch.. the second, a lengthy strap, that if you need to unhank the short strap in order to make some adjustment, will still ensure that you're attached. Using a single strap by knotting and releasing can become tiresome and difficult when tired, wet, cold. Secondly.. reduce watch times progressively and before fatigue sets in.. I've been down to 30 min per watch on a couple of very bad occasions. Fatigue can be a killer in several ways.

People used to tell me I was crazy for going sailing in bad weather.but my argument was that if you'd practiced in bad weather you wouldn't be surprised when it hit . I once went out rowing in a 40 knot gale in an 8ft Dinghy. I learned as much about rough weather boat handling in an hour than I had in 20 years .

Strong winds and the north sea showed me my limitations in a matter of seconds- took me 13 hours to battle out of it again. This can be a life saving video, thank you for making it!👍

I have seen a few instructional videos covering this topic but none made things as clear. You covered many of the fearful topics in one logical flow that just makes sense!

Great tips. Any blue water sailor can get caught in 40 knots or more. The first time it happened to me was in a Cat 1 hurricane. It would've great to have already had a little 40 knot experience under my belt. The good thing was that later when I was caught in 30 knots in coastal sailing it was actually fun.

Assent was owned by Willie Ker well before the 79 Fastnet. It was his son Alan who skippered the boat during that race. Assent was the first keel boat I ever sailed on - probably around 1976 - having learned to sail on the same small reservoir where my family met and became friends with Willie. What a legend... Assent is looking good! The last time I saw her was in Victoria BC where I met Willie after he had returned from the Bering Sea; she was looking a little rough!

Lot of nice things to say about this video. Besides, it is a relief to actually see an internet video (this may be the first I have seen) done by somebody who speaks the language, almost always using proper terminology. KZfaq is just swamped with self-styled cruising experts who don't even know what a "deck" is. It never ceases to amaze and even to depress me to see such persons who know less about how to talk about a boat than I did when I was 10 years old.

Having been crew in a heavy gale on several occassions I can definitely say that any time you have to go forward is a VERY dangerous situation, and even normally minor issues become life threatening. The bounce of the foredeck combined with everything being wet, cold, and slippery means that you need four hands for the boat (and wish you had prehensile toes). Getting prepared before the weather gets bad, and practicing (like this video suggests) are your best action plan. You can very quickly find yourself having to get onto a foredeck travelling up and down 6-8 ft every few seconds, while trying to untangle a line or worse, pulling in a headsail, with no footing.

Comms enthusiast here -- there is a inexpensive option called a Throat Mic which can connect to handheld radios. It also comes with a earpiece so that you can hear what's being said on channel. The idea is to keep your hands free so that you can handle the tiller and lines.

I really appreciate this. A practical example of preparation and dealing with conditions. I would also add that care of the morale and 'energy' of the crew is not often discussed however important that it certainly is. Excellent vlog.

That is one of the best sailing videos I’ve ever watched. And I may have watched them all!

Outstanding!! Brilliantly done all round. Best heavy weather vid I have ever seen, kudos to the crew and Theo -. you hit every important detai ,and the after action review was spot on. Expect and prepare for the worst, then carry on and enjoy the very best! Your prep and attention to detail took this from a potential horrror show to a valuable and unforgettable but safe day at sea. Bravo!

Excellent video. I've been sailing for 50 years, the last 20 soloing a 57 foot, cold molded, center cockpit cutter designed by Henry Scheel. Every couple of years I would take my boat out in big seas and high winds in the middle of the night, hank on my storm sail, fully reef the main and hove to. I would also lock the rudder and try to steer using a 48" drogue on two winches. I am amazed at the people who I have met that have been caught in bad weather with full sails flying and didnt know how to reef properly and had no storm sails. they should all watch your video...

Excellent video. Might have been worth mentioning to have a good check over the boat once back in harbour to ensure nothing has chafed, or started to come undone or anything else which might catch you out next time you go to sea. If still at sea, then check as much as you can when the weather has calmed down.

I have the article here right beside me. I am so happy there is a video to this. One of the best articles I have read recently. Assent is a treasure

Great video that brings back memories for me. I had a Contessa 26 for years a long time ago. A very wet, small and slow little boat. I am now in my seventies and have fonder memories of her than any other boat that I have owned. Many a tale was told in the King's Head in Lymington after a long trek back from France or Cowes 😀. Several times I have had to alter plans, run for shelter or ride it out. Keep up the good work guys and safe sailing everyone. Bon Voyage.

This is a great idea and I have done this. First, I am a US Sailing instructor that taught a lot in San Francisco, bay and off shore. Well known for strong winds and seas as the norm. But when I bought an Alberg 35 that I was living aboard with my wife, we went up a canal for protection from a category 2 hurricane. After the worst had passed, sustained winds were 40-50. We decided to test the boat, well known for it’s good heavy weather attributes. We were sailing about 12 miles back to home port in the open part of Biscayne Bay. It was tougher than we thought. Part of the issue was the reduced visibility, due to rain. (That we didn’t expect, and this is before chart plotters and GPS). Navigation was pilotage and Ded Reconing. The boat handled the conditions well, with triple reefed main and storm Jib. Always good to practice heavy weather in at least semi controlled conditions as you, and we did.

Interesting video. As a former yachtsman I have had my fair share of strong weather. My tactics in 40+ knots would be to heave-to. The Contessa shown would be ideal for this. By the way, I was in a major storm ( “pacific Storm” on KZfaq) with winds in excess of 80Kns and a sea state with over 18 metre swells with breaking tops. Many yachts and a whole family lost. Not far from me was the designer of the Contessa David Sadler. We both sailed the same designed yacht a 10.5M Ganley Shadow. Steel. Both came through with minor damage. Handled this storm hove-to.

And those conditions can occur just about anywhere and anytime. I once got caught in 35+ winds gusting to 50+ on the Columbia River Gorge in a blizzard in a 24-ft. Kent Ranger. My years of year round off-shore sailing off the Pacific coast prepared me for the event, but I never ever encountered as rough a conditions on the ocean as that time on the Columbia and with very little room to maneuver. to avoid running aground or collecting rock. And yes, the Columbia River can develop some good sized waves and turbulent waters. Still one of my most memorable sailing adventures shared with my young son and a friend who had never been on a sailboat before and became an avid sailor after much more time on my boat learning the ropes leading to his Captains license. Excellent post...👍👍

Great and honest video, good and clear instructions and - yes - the Contessa is a very suitable and proper ‘little boat’ ! Best, Harry

A very clear and educational video. Thank you for having thought of making a video with the basics of navigation in bad weather. and Thanks also to all the technical and editorial team for doing.

Thank you for your excellent reporting and incredible team effort in rough conditions.

Having worked (and still work) commercial and patrol vessels, and sailing both yachts and square riggers, with many years working in the Southern and Indian Oceans, one thing I have to say is that old technology works. It's been around forever at sea for a reason. Those basic navigation devices, the paper chart (on deck, you just need a small one in a plastic case), a compass for bearings (I use a set of binos with an inbuilt compass), especially when doing coastal runs. Modern technology is great and make life so easy, but never, ever, ever rely on it! And for comms, rely on your HF/MF. SATCOM will work, but intermittently. As that cloud cover builds, especially if there is electricity in the atmosphere, your INM-C will take a hit. Rely on HF for your long range comms in rough conditions, as although you will hear a lot of ambience, you will still get messages in and out. I really cannot emphasise NBDP (Narrowband Direct Printing) when going outside of 40 degrees N/S. Your equatorial satellites will be way to far away by that point when atmospherics are involved, and while NBDP takes momentary hits, it works in any condition, and they plan for those hits! It works similar to INM-C, especially for modern systems that usually use both INM-C and NBDP on the same screen, in the way that MSI is accessed, but you cannot transmit on NBDP. Also, trained crew. I've been involved in way to many rescues because of lack of crew training. It's not about them knowing what to do, it's about them knowing what to do under pressure. And if you aren't completely happy with what has to happen, ask! Again, I cannot emphasise enough how crucial crew competence under pressure is in heavy weather! Things go wrong all the time with fully professional, full time crews in rough weather. Not dying is due to everyone being fully abreast of their roles, and the roles of the people around them. When the sea state is up, let the trainees observe from a safe position (or under direct supervision depending on circumstances and role), but you need crew competence to survive! However, this video has some great points and demonstrates a key thing many people ignore: train for the worst case scenarios. If rough seas are a possibility, train for them. Don't train light on, for when the going gets tough, everyone and everything will crack. Also, and this might be years of naval service speaking, but train for damage too. Learn what tools you need to do underway repairs so you can limp back to port. I have seen many boats saved because their crews have known where their repair kits are, and how to use them. I have also been in many searches and rescues where the crews have not known how to conduct basic repairs - and that has a much greater cost!

Great video! I wasn't expecting to first part to be before you even get out on the water, which was brilliant. I learned a lot from this so thank you very much.

Thank you for taking us for the ride. Great info.

Thank you very much Theo and crew. Great video, I enjoyed every minute

SUPERB video, thank you for the effort, it was a very useful watch!

A few preparation failures - They didn't tie the liferaft painter to the boat. The lifering should be fitted with a weighted drogue otherwise it just sails off to leeward at 40 knots! Webbing jackstays - they rot in the sun and the stitching rots even faster. Do not use fixed anchor points for a harness as there is no give when a person goes overboard - and the tether will probably break! Rope jackstays have a little give and are much better than webbing.

What a great video! Packed with amazing detail. And I can't say enough about that Contessa 32--she's a gem! and a good match with the crew. May have to watch this again.

Dude kills it. Wave breaks and white tops are safe for learning.

Really enjoyed this video. Full of information and learned a few things! Also shows how sea worthy a yacht can be. I know the Contessa's are pretty good boats but there's nothing wrong with sailing in some high winds if you have the stomach for it. I personally love the idea of heavy weather and trying to master my skills in higher winds. Many thanks!

Excellent presentation. A must watch for novice and experienced sailors who have not been out in the rough for a while. Thank You.

Great video - Thanks! Things on board are never perfect so it brought realism to the video to point out the (very few) deficiencies like the storm jib tack line. I liked the section on heaving to since that is one of my challenges.

where i sail, the weather is often brutal. since getting trapped in a big storm (gusts to about 50kt) i've decided to make a few changes to my boat. those include leading everything back to the cockpit that i can, and a proper enclosed wheelhouse. great video - learnt a lot and confirmed what i thought i knew.

Fifty years a sailor but I really enjoyed this. A review that I will share again and again with crew and fellow lifelong sailor friends. Very thorough and easy to understand. Thank you.

Excellent video really clear and not one wasted word..

Brilliant! Possibly the best explanation of heave to I have seen. Cheers

Well covered ! We can all bang on about the storms we got through and lucked out. But it is the lessons learnt and reapplied that count….Everything just takes three times as long to do and is three times harder-And MUST be done with exquisite care. As you so so rightly do, have it all ready beforehand and give the crew a warm , hydrated,fed , safe and easy time of it conserving energy and alertness…The trisail and the storm jib /staysail really need to be set up and ‘ ready to go’..

Having sailed on the Atlantic in Force 10 winds for days. Sailing and taking care of the boat is actually the smaller thing. Mainly, having too much sails becomes very uncomfortable, but an ocean going yacht should stand more than the sails. Hours and days, the main thing is to take care of the crew's wellbeing and capacity. If all are seasick, exhausted, stressed and angry, there is nobody to take care of the boat and sailing. If you sail this kind of weather longer than a couple of hours, you have to be able to visit the toilet regularly, sleep, have something warm to eat and drink and so on. So, as you did, you secure all the lockers and loose items. The become dangerous very fast. As much as possible, you try to have a dry place to sleep. You make warm meals. Working on the deck is to be avoided. Should I tell you how changing a traditional head sail in 5 - 7 metre waves feels like? :D I guess, I could not do it anymore. Even in cockpit, you were your safety equipment. And in order to save your strength, you don't even sit without support. Every time the boat rolls, accelerates or decelerates, you need your muscles, which consumes your energy, which causes hunger, which is not so easy satisfy. The meal is not served on deck 9 in the bow section of the vessel. It is what you manage to make and eat. Thus, in order to work with your boat, navigate and communicate, you avoid exhaustion, hunger, thirst cold,, pain and you visit the toilet regularly even if it is hard. And you clean it after the visit! Seasickness and coli bacteria is, I guess, quite a nice compound! :D (And you don't keep your torches next to the main compass..)

That was exceedingly useful - so very practical. Thank you.

BRAVO! Outstanding! Thank you!!

First class informative no nonsense video. Thanks.

That was a very comprehensive video, thanks.

Nicely done. My interest was maintained throughout. Even after 60 + years at sea, I always pay attention to matters and materials new to me. And there are always just that and those. Cheers!

Amazingly informative and useful info. Thank you!

Great instruction. This was helpful even for sailing a Pearson Ensign in heavy winds on a small lake. Clear and precise without a hint of condescension.

Finally 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽 This is sailing and this is what people need to know. ❤

A couple weeks ago I went out, I didn't bother to check the forecast and it turns out there was a small craft advisory. It quickly turned to 25 knot winds and 40 knot gusts and I was out on my little 22 foot swing keel! Needless to say I quickly dropped sail and motored my butt back in and had a fun time trying to dock! Luckily my slipmate was out as well, so I had all the room I needed to fight the wind.

Superb, thanks for the comprehensive explanation with direct experience and prior briefing. I sail solo under rough conditions from time to time just to find the flaws of the boat, its setup (below and above deck) and my own decisions and skills. And😮I find many new every time I do it. Always worth, but later 3 days exhausted, it's extremely demanding. 😅

Outstanding presentation! My personal mantra is "What if,What now,What next?"

This is a really helpful video, thanks for this series!

A great detailed video on how to cope with heavy weather.

Brilliant episode. Very informative. Thanks

Great info! My solo sailing heavy weather tactics (17’ 2000# sailboat) If it’s the way I’m going run with it bare poles until breaking waves and danger of Broach then deploy Jordan Series Drogue. If I need to fight a Leeshore storm jib/third reef heave-too possibly fore-reach if breaking waves deploy Sea anchor. Mostly though keep a eye on weather and try to avoid it. As a solo sailor you Must practice these things beforehand in milder conditions and have all the kinks worked out.

spot on, this was thorough and thought provoking . thank you gents

outstanding peace of sailing video - thanks!

Very informative, thank you for all the effort you all put into this production.

Great boat, great crew, great sail! WOW!

Gorgeous! I wouldn't dare going out in such conditions, but man how I enjoyed watching you!

This was excellent - more please!

Thanks for the excellent content. Lots of thought and work here, well done.

Great video. As older sailors, my partner and I have rigged everything on our H28 to drop and raise the sails from the cockpit. This includes 2 reefing points and a furling gib. This winter I’m going to add lazy jacks so that if necessary we can drop the mainsail entirely. But as a result of watching your video and listening to the observations you make, I will also move some more important safety items closer to the hatch for availability

This was really cool! This is what sailing is really about. If you can make it through this type of weather you can sail through anything. I saw a bunch of people in the comments of a different video of a guy in a smaller sailboat encountering rough seas and they kept saying things like "that boat is too small for the ocean" and "don't ever take a lake boat in the ocean" if you know what you're doing there's no difference between a lake boat and an ocean boat.

Excellent rough weather video !! well rounded from the start to final debrief 👌

Nice flow to that video - to the point and holds the attention - something worth its weight in gold when instructing: Thanks so much.

Absolutely fantastic program. Incredibly informative and the debrief at the end is really helpful and thought provoking. Thank you all so much 😃

Well done Theo for that final piece to camera, you looked knackered :-)

Good show! The crew performed well....better than a touch screen!

Excellent Video and great explanation… 👌🏻 I think the only thing I would add would be an explanation of how important communication is before, during and after any really heavy weather. The crew should know what they can expect and what is expected of them, finally a good debrief once conditions allow and everyone has recovered from the exertion and stress of the situation, is invaluable. It should also be noted that many “modern designs” are not as well suited to sailing in heavy weather as a Contessa or many other more traditional designs … the design and layout of everything from the hull shape, interior and deck / rigging are often focused more on space and comfort in harbour than at sea…

What a great instructional video, Thank You. So much makes more sense now than before. As a very novice sailor the information and advise you provide here is invaluable.⛵👍

Great viewing. I don’t have the courage or the skill to sail in those conditions yet (or the foreseeable future) but great to see. Keep up the great vids. Ian

What a great tutorial! Thank you!

What a fantastic video. Thank you!

Thanks for this good video. I have learned something was new for me.

An excellent training video, with lots of expert content. I enjoyed it!

Clear, concise and well presented. Thanks for knowledge. Subbed.

Very informative and clear video ! Yes for sure we can confirm the findings and infos about electronic equipments that might not work in the strong weather, such as touch screens and battery operated equipments as with the cold weather, many batteries will shut down at some point. We loved the section preparation of the boat inside and out too ! Thanks for this test !

Excellent video, I enjoyed very much and learned things.

Really nice and complete video from a passionnate... many thanks for the effort!

Awesome video. Never forget you can change course to be safe. Keep your knees bent everyone.

Your using the right boat my favorite of all time

The baddest sailboat of all time. Assent has such an amazing history. So glad Kit is carrying on his father's tradition.

Very well done.

Excellent excellent explanation and of the reasoning and reality of inclement weather. 👏 You all nailed it how it happens. Anyone wanting to head offshore should watch this as a basic. Fair winds from NZ

Very good video and suggestions. Excellent comments. And, amazing sound!

Thanks so much!! I learned a lot.

Such a good video, so many extremely good points, my remote mike saved me from a possible a collision with a car transporter when visibility suddenly came down to a couple of hundred yards in minutes just approaching the Lizard. It come out of the mist/fog straight for me. Did not have time to get below to use the VHF. Def would not be without that!!!

Done similar, initially in small doses, with my Sadler 25 to build knowledge and confidence. The learning is powerful, especially managing navigation & feeding/hydration. I’ve been caught out a couple of times delivering other yachts and the experience has made things possible, not a scary epic. Managed concern and minimised fatigue keeps the crew capable.

I‘m not a sailor, would have loved to be though! As a former flight instructor I love the fact that you show, what it means if you get yourself in trouble and show in detail everything required to get yourself out of it! Very well done video and I believe some of your viewers will at one point in time highly appreciate what he/she learned out of it!👍

A really excellent presentation of this aspect of sailing, particularly in the conditions. Ranking the Contessa 32 very highly as a seagoing yacht. It's interesting to me that modern yacht design and marine technology still isn't fully geared up for rough weather sailing. Only if an owner is specifically interested will it get the proper attention it requires.

A REALLY EXPERTLY MADE VID CLIP, & IT SHOWS EVEN WITH A SMALL BOAT THAT YOU CAN MANAGE WITH FORETHOUGHT, KNOWLEDGE, NO SCARY 👍👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼

Get out into some silly winds in a Laser. They can be very pushy to the point you dump, even if you're introducing a fake broad reach. Silly speeds while hydroplaning. Also, you can't run because the tipsiness of the boat, and gusts make you roll back on the transom and almost lose it coming off the boat. That is...if you aren't laughing your ass off.

Very informative. Thank you as a new sailor, I find this info to be very helpful.

Thank you . That is sailing !

A few years ago, I sold my Montgomery 17 as my age and physical abilities are noe catching up to me. One time, I got th eidea of sailing on Port Gardner Bay here in Puget Sound in similar conditions in november. Not 40 knots, but around 32-37 knots, waves breaking at 6-8 feet. I was never so scared in my life, until I realized the little Monty was thriving in it. Third reef in, headsail furled to 50%. I know, a furler isn't for storms, but on a small craft, the strength to resisitance ratio is greatly increased, especially on a Montgomery, which are over-built in every way imaginable. A bigger boat might have had trouble with that. Once I saw that the boat simply would not heel further than 18 degrees, my only problem was that the waves were so big that the boat was like a rocking horse, and my body was being beaten into a pulp from maintaining a basic human posture. It took a week for all the muscle and strain to go away. I sure love those old Montgomery's. IMO, Lyle Hess's masterpiece, despite all the other great boats he designed.

Great Video with lots of good Information . Thanks.

best video I've seen on explaining and demonstrations. '

Thanks for the great video!

Excellent and informative video.

thanks for sharing,that was very useful information.