You are caught in a storm in your boat What should you do?

Answer 1

Depends on the boat and depends on how far offshore you are. On a sailing yacht one can furl all the sails, head the boat into the wind and waves and run a drogue from the bow. An old tyre will do admirably and won't rip like a canvas drogue. If survival suits are available it is time to put them on. Lightning can be a problem unless ones boat is built to French Regulations (mast has to be properly earthed to the metal keel) If you don't have this wrap some chain around the backstay and let it dangle in the water.

With power it is different and if one has a deep vee powerful ski boat one can run up and down the waves at will choosing ones course rather like hill climbing with a 4 x4 car. Although the writer has water-skied in gale force 9 it is somewhat "hairy" and not to be recommended. Whilst taking-off from an enormous wave that has a rope coming out of it, is fairly easy; the landing is more difficult. Quite a considerable height can be attained when the skier is pulled by a boat that is Surfing down the next wave, in fact one almost needs a pilots licence!