Remove the mainsail from the boom and run before it with bare poles or storm
jib.

Certain offshore racing classes are required to carry storm sails. A trisail
for the boom and storm jib for forward. In this case its much less sail than
a fully reefed boat. The Main is removed for the trisail to be added.
http://www.mdschool.com/Photos99/108/BDA99/Trisail.jpg

Older long keel designs would self tender somewhat. Certainly not more
modern fin keel designs so you will need a sea anchor to assist control. But
you should be able to go below once you have the helm lashed, anchor out at
the correct distance etc.

DP
"scbafreak via BoatKB.com" u25927@uwe wrote in message
news:6bfedf6757156@uwe...
I have been reading a lot of articles about peple that got caught in bad
weather. Some of them lose their masts and some don't. Obviously getting
Dismasted is pretty bad so I was wondering about peoples opinions undere
severe conditions. I am new to sailing so i am still learning here.

The conditions I am thinking are that if you have a good strong heavy boat
made well for blue water cruising and get caught in heavy wind and seas
that
may pose a threat to tearing your boat apart what do you do reccommend
doing?
Lets say that the sails have been reefed to as small as possible and it is
still to hard to hold onto the rudder and keep her sailing. I have read,
and
heard, that most boat are better at sailing than the people sailing them,
meaning that many people fight the rudder and try to sail in a particular
diretion when you can try to sail as much into the wind as possible and
fight
the rudder less so that you don't snap a rudder cable. Should you try and
let the boat lead in really rough weather or is that just not possible?
Would it be a good idea to drop all sails, put out a sea anchor and go
below
waiting it out? What are the potential problems here?

I want to assume that all safety gear is on board in working order and in
use.
Also that you are not close enough to land to have to worry about running
aground, say 500NM out. This would also mean that you waould have no way
of
sailing in before the storm hits to ride out the waether on land.

Thanks,
Bill

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