How to Cope with Storms. 2nd edition

No experienced sailor wishes to be in a storm. It is potentially damaging to the boat and a great physical and mental strain for skipper and crew. And it is by no means unreasonable to assume that something could go wrong. When someone at the bar tells glamorous stories of sailing in wild seas, much of it can be attributed to the beer and a vivid imagination! In reality, we are talking about hard work, major discomfort and danger. On a crazily pitching and heaving boat, normal tasks become tough struggles. Lungeing for a hold somewhere; fighting against the wildly flapping sailcloth; fumbling with a knot which suddenly will not tie; cursing cold fingers and that horrible icy wetness creeping down your neck.
Into one's thoughts creep anxiety and even fear: Does the helmsman see the huge wave piling up behind us? Watch out! Wow, those leeward shrouds are whipping about; I hope the crosstrees can take the strain! Have they ever been as loose as this before? Just pray that the mast is OK. Then there's the desperate desire to check the position when you've only done it a few moments ago - have we still got plenty of sea to leeward? I can't go below to check now...
Routine helps. With plenty of experience under your belt, you'll be less likely to get worried about a storm and stay much calmer. Still, it is unlikely that you'll ever get blase about heavy weather — big seas can always command respect.

INTRODUCTION
1 THE POWER SOURCE
Warm air rises
How the air absorbs heat
The origin of wind
How a gale forms
Latent heat
Causes of condensation
Air cools as it rises
The release of latent heat
The flue pipe effect

2 HIGH AND LOW PRESSURE
Vertical air circulation
The planetary wind system
Winds around a low
Winds around a high
Wind information on weather maps

3 WIND STRENGTH
Measuring wind speed
Estimating wind speed from isobars

4 EVOLUTION OF A GALE
Rapid fall of pressure
The approaching gale on the weather chart
The path of the depression
Passage of the fronts
A trough
North of the depression

5 EFFECTS OF LAND
Funnelling
 Headlands
Katabatic winds
Thermal squalls

6 THUNDERSTORMS
Warning signs
Winds in a thunderstorm
Thunderstorm tactics

7 TROPICAL CYCLONES
Meteorology of a cyclone
When and where do cyclones occur?
Movement of cyclones
The dangerous quadrant
Cyclone avoidance tactics
8 WAVES
Small waves, big waves
Waves in shallow water
Breaking seas
Surface flow
Waves and currents
Interference and cross-seas
Breakers
Waves in reality

9 THE YACHT IN A GALE
Stress factors in strong winds
The effect of too much sail
Pitching
Rolling
Yawing
Scooping water on board
The yacht in a breaking sea

10 DESIGN FEATURES FOR HEAVY WEATHER
Size of yacht
Standing rigging
Mast and halyards
 Sails
Hull construction
Bow shape
Cross-sections
Hull profile
Steering system
The dinghy
On deck
 Below decks
The engine
Bilge pumps
 Can we combine all these features?

11 TO GO OR NOT TO GO?
Weather forecasts
The decision to leave

12 GALES IN HARBOUR
Lying alongside
Rafting up
Securing a stern-to 'Mediterranean' mooring
Avoiding chafe
 Fenders
 Dinghy at the ready
Using the engine
Getting out of trouble
Watches in harbour

13 PREPARATIONS FOR HEAVY WEATHER AT SEA
Recognising the danger
Briefing the crew
Watchkeeping
Navigation
Below decks
The galley
On deck
Gale checklist
When to reef
Reefing the mainsail
The jib

14 THE CREW
Rest
Foul weather gear
Use the heads
Seasickness
Food
Morale
Keeping in touch
Navigation
In the cockpit
Working on deck
Darkness

15 ACTIVE AND PASSIVE STORM TACTICS
Helming in rough seas
How much sail?
Course considerations
Breaking seas
Dodging seas
Taking breaking seas
Stem-on method
 Head-on method
Passive heavy weather tactics
Running downwind
Sail plans
Towing warps
Heaving-to
Lying to a sea anchor
Lying a-hull
Use of oil
Use of engine
Confused seas

16 PLANNING AHEAD
Weather routeing
Sea room
Changing tactice

17 RUNNING FOR SHELTER
Approaching on a beam reach
Approaching to windward
Closing a lee shore

18 MANOEUVRES IN HARBOUR
Preparing to enter
Manoeuvring under power
Coming alongside with an onshore wind
Coming alongside with an offshore wind
Mooring stern-to
Mooring chains
Anchoring in an emergency
Anchoring as an aid to manoeuvring
Unsuitable propeller shaft arrangements
 Anchoring in shelter

19 EMERGENCIES
Man overboard attached by a harness
Man overboard separated from the boat
Search patterns
Leaks
Abandoning ship
Launching the liferaft
Rescue by lifeboat
Rescue by ship
Rescue by helicopter
Stranding

FINAL THOUGHTS