On 14 Dec 2005 10:04:01 -0800, "Bob" wrote:

So what is the best way to handle heavy weather?

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Avoid it like the plague.

Plan your route, time of passage and weather window to give you the
best possible odds of having no heavy weather at all.

For what it's worth the folks who make the "Galerider", whom I know
well, maintain that it is designed for deployment at the stern as an
aide to running off downwind. Based on my own experience in small
sailboats, running off is a perfectly fine tactic as long as you have
some sea room to use up. The stern drogue can help you slow down,
thus using less sea room, and can also help avert a pitchpole or
broach if overtaken by a large breaking sea.