A good post, thanks Henk (more below)

Flying Dutchman wrote:
Although much good advice has already been given, there would seem to
be ample room left for confusion. So let me try to suggest a somewhat
more systematic, though not necessarily noncontroversial, process:.


controversy: why do so many people think they should turn on their
engine? Have they all forgotten how to *sail*?

(Step 1 - recovering from a squall-induced broach)
In spite of the best-laid weather awareness and avoidance plans
violent squalls CAN strike out of a blue sky.... During the severe 1997
El Nino, as we were struggling to windward 10-15 NM off the coast of
Maui in very light winds, we were struck repeatedly by strong williwaws
spawned by the huge mountain ranges. With all sails up and no fuel
reserves to fire up the iron genny we were only able to recover from
the resulting broaches by slacking off the sheets, waiting for the
vessel to righten itself and then momentarily running off.


This is a decision one has to make in a snap... run off (bear away) or
head up into the wind? One of the factors that I'd consider is the
boat's current point of sail. Anywhere below a beam reach, run off.
Between a beam reach and close reach, it would depend on what sails were
set and the handling characteristics of the particular boat. Above a
beam reach, particularly if close hauled, there is nothing to be gained
by bearing away in a squall and the boat may not answer her helm well
enough if the squall lays her over.


(Step 2 - fully or partially furling the jib)
Afraid to lose in a few minutes what had cost us many hours to gain we
would work feverishly to furl the genoa (after blanketing it with the
furling staysail to reduce friction) and then climb on deck to manually
pull the main down to its third reef points.

One issue with furling the jib is that the balance of the boat will change.

... Even with an experienced
helmsman at the wheel, however, working within the sweep circle of the
boom under these conditions makes one feel like a baseball within range
of Babe Ruth's bat! An uncontrolled gybe is almost certainly going to
become a home run.....


If you're pulling down the mainsail, wouldn't the sheet be hauled in so
that the crew can reach the boom in the first place?

(Step 3 - attempting to "heave to")
Therefore, if at all possible, heaving-to is by far the preferred
solution. Instead of trying to tack through the wind it is often
possible to head up far enough to take the pressure of the headsail
(i.e. staysail or partially furled genoa) and then crank the clew over
to windward far enough to backwind the sail while simultaneously
countering the rudder.


Never done it this way, but it's true that tacking into a sudden squall
may not work very well.

With regard to earlier discussion: yes fin keel boats, especially
sloops, do not always heave-to reliably and/or steadily. This is
something that should be practiced so as to know the boat well.


(Step 4 - heading up without going "in irons")
If unable to heave to, IMHO the safest option is to return clew and
rudder to their old position and then to keep turning upwind while
tightening and flattening the partially furled jib (or the staysail)
till your vessel is slowly jogging against wind and waves with the
traveler and boom fully to leeward and the mainsheet just tight enough
to keep the boom from slamming around. Chances are that boom and
mainsail are now pointing far enough into the wind to take most of the
pressure of luff and sail slides while your vessel continues to slowly
sail to windward without the need for starting up the engine. If so,
just go ahead and deep-reef, drop or furl the mainsail.


Very practical suggestion. This heading up slightly and easing the sails
used to be called a "fisherman's reef." It's still hard on the sails,
but less so than uncontrolled flogging.

One of the things that's hard to believe if you haven't experienced it,
is how *noisy* a sailboat can be in a squall. A good skipper must be
able to think clearly & make good decisions in the midst of all this
furor, and also to be able to communicate with his crew without having
them think he's either angry at them or possibly panicked himself.

Have fun!

Exactly!

Fresh Breezes- Doug King