sailboat in a hurricane

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HOW TO SAIL SAFELY THROUGH A STORM

Tips and tricks to help you get home safe.

Compared to the quick response and sudden nature of a squall , sailing through a storm in open water is an endurance contest. In addition to big wind, you’ll have to deal with big waves and crew fatigue.

Sailing in Waves

Sailing in big waves is a test of seamanship and steering, which is why you should put your best driver on the helm. Experienced dinghy sailors often are very good at heavy air steering, because they see “survival” weather more often than most cruisers.

Avoid sailing on a reach across tall breaking waves; they can roll a boat over. When sailing close-hauled in waves, aim toward flat spots while keeping speed up so you can steer. To reduce the chance of a wave washing across the deck, tack in relatively smooth water. A cubic foot of water weighs 64 pounds, so a wave can bring many hundreds of pounds of water across the deck.

Sailing on a run or broad reach in big waves is exhilarating, but be careful not to broach and bring the boat beam-to a breaker. Rig a preventer to hold the boom out.

Storm Sails

If reefing isn’t enough to reduce power, it’s time to dig out your storm sails — the storm trysail and storm jib. They may seem tiny, but since wind force rises exponentially, they’re the right size for a really big blow. Storm trysails are usually trimmed to the rail, but some modern ones are set on the boom. The storm jib should be set just forward of the mast to keep the sail plan’s center of effort near the boat’s center of lateral resistance. This helps keep the boat in balance.

Storm Strategy

The first decision before an approaching storm is the toughest: Run for cover, or head out to open water for sea room? With modern forecasting, a true storm will rarely arrive unannounced, but as you venture further offshore the chances of being caught out increase. While running for cover would seem the preferred choice, the danger lies in being caught in the storm, close to shore, with no room to maneuver or run off.

Two classic storm strategies are to try to keep away from land so you’re not blown up on shore, and to sail away from the storm’s path — especially its “dangerous semicircle,” which is its right side as it advances.

Storm Tactics

Storm tactics help you handle a storm once you’re in it. There are several proven choices, all of which aim to reduce the strain and motion by pointing one of the boat’s ends (either bow or stern) toward the waves. No one tactic will work best for all boats in all conditions.

Sail under storm jib and deeply reefed mainsail or storm trysail. This approach provides the most control. Sails give you the power to steer and control your boat in the waves.

Run before the storm with the stern toward the waves, perhaps towing a drogue to slow the boat. This tactic requires a lot of sea room, and the boat must be steered actively. Another concern is that you will remain in front of an approaching storm, rather than sailing out of its path.

Heave-to on a close reach with the jib trimmed to windward. Heaving-to can be an excellent heavy weather tactic, though some boats fare better than others.

Deploy a sea anchor while hove-to or under bare poles. A sea anchor is a small parachute set at the end of a line off the bow. A sea anchor helps keep the bow up into the waves so the boat won’t end up beam to the seas. One concern is the load on the rudder as waves push the boat aft.

Another alternative is lying ahull, simply sitting with sails down. This passive alternative is less reliable than the other tactics, as you lose the ability to control your angle to the waves and may end up beam to the seas. Furthermore, the motion of the boat rolling in the waves without the benefit of sails can be debilitating.

Want to order a storm trysail or storm jib for your boat? Contact a North Sails Expert here .

How to Heave-To

Wouldn’t it be great if, during a heavy air sail, you could just take a break, and relax for a bit? Imagine a short respite from the relentless pitching and pounding: a chance to rest, take a meal, or check over the boat in relative tranquility. Well, you can. The lost art of heaving-to allows you to “park” in open water.

To heave-to, trim the jib aback (i.e., to the wrong side), trim the main in hard, and lash the helm so the boat will head up once it gains steerageway. As the jib tries to push the bow down, the bow turns off the wind and the main fills, moving the boat forward. Once the boat begins to make headway, the lashed helm turns the boat toward the wind again. As the main goes soft the jib once again takes over, pushing the bow down. The main refills, and the rudder pushes the bow into the wind again.

The boat won’t actually stop. It will lie about 60 degrees off the wind, sailing at 1 or 2 knots, and making significant leeway (sliding to leeward). The motion will be much less than under sail, and dramatically more stable and pleasant than dropping all sails and lying ahull. You will also be using up less sea room than if you run before the storm at great speed.

Achieving this balance will require some fine tuning, depending on the wind strength, your boat design, and the sails you are flying. Also, fin-keeled boats do not heave to as well as more traditional designs.

In storm seas, some boats will require a sea anchor off the bow to help hold the boat up into the waves while hove-to.

Alternate Storm Strategy: Don’t Go

If conditions are wrong, or are forecast to worsen, don’t go. If you can avoid the storm, then do so.

If you’re at home, stay there. If you’re mid-cruise, button up the boat, make sure your anchor or mooring or dock lines are secure, and then read a book or play cards. Relax. Enjoy the time with your shipmates. Study the pile of Owners’ Manuals you’ve accumulated with each piece of new gear. Tinker with boat projects.

Put some soup on the stove, and check on deck every so often to make sure the boat is secure. Shake your head as you return below, and remark, “My oh my, is it nasty out there.”

If your boat is threatened by a tropical storm or hurricane, strip all excess gear from the deck, double up all docking or mooring lines, protect those lines from chafe, and get off. Don’t risk your life to save your boat.

Misery and Danger

Although everyone will remember it differently years later, a long, wet, cold sail through a storm can be miserable. As the skipper, you need to make the best of it: watch over your crew, offer relief or help to those who need it, and speak a few words of encouragement to all. “This is miserable, but it will end.”

Take the time to marvel at the forces of nature, and at your ability to carry on in the midst of the storm. Few people get to experience the full fury of a storm. It may not be pleasant, but it is memorable.

While misery and discomfort can eventually lead to fatigue, diminished performance, and even danger, do not mistake one for the other. Distinguish in your own mind the difference between misery and danger. Don’t attempt a dangerous harbor entrance to escape misery; that would compromise the safety of the boat and crew, just to avoid a little discomfort.

Interested in a new sail quote or have questions about your sails? Fill out our Request a Quote form below and you will receive a reply from a North sail expert in your area.

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Offshore sailing guide, how to care for your foul weather gear.

27 February

GITANA TEAM WINS INAUGURAL ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE

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Surviving a hurricane in a sailboat: Essential things to do

In this article, I am going to explain to you what all the things you need to do for protecting yourself and your sailboat in a hurricane. Although surviving a hurricane is not that simple, but you can follow some steps to protect yourself during a hurricane in the sailboat.

Choose an area near the shore for anchoring your boat. Try to choose an area surrounded by mountains (mountains will try to decrease the wind speed). After anchoring, keep all your belongings inside the boat. During the hurricane, you just need to check the boat condition regularly.

During a hurricane, winds can exceed 100 mph and tornadoes are often associated with these storms. Mostly, try to avoid being on the boat during the hurricane.

In the center of the hurricane, the wind speed will be high compared to the outer area of the hurricane, where the wind speed will be less. Whenever you hear about the hurricane, sail away from the hurricane area if possible. If that option is not possible, then do follow these steps to defend yourself and your boat from a hurricane.

Everything has parts to deal with, in the first part you need to prepare for a hurricane, in the second part you might not have much work to do, in the third part you need to do post-hurricane work.

Preparing for the hurricane

Before doing all the pre-hurricane work, check whether you have enough resources like food, water, etc. If you don’t have them, try to get them. Check whether all the communication devices are fully charged or not and working or not? Communication plays a major role during the hurricane.

While preparing your boat for the hurricane, there are some steps everyone needs to follow to secure your boat from the hurricane winds. These are the following steps.

• Finding a perfect area for anchoring your sailboat
• Anchoring your sailboat in a hurricane
• Keep your objects inside the sailboat during a hurricane

1. Finding a perfect area for anchoring your sailboat

The first essential thing you should do while preparing for a hurricane survival in a sailboat is to find a good area for anchoring your boat. And try to find the area that is close to the shore, not too far from the shore.

While searching for the area, you should consider the surroundings too. You can’t survive a hurricane on your own you need to take some help from nature. Check for these kinds of places that I mentioned on the list.

While selecting the area for anchoring your boat, be careful to check whether you are entering any other country’s waters.

• Check for the area that is surrounded by mountains
• Move away from the neighbor boats around you(if any)
• Check the depth of the water

1. Check for the area that is surrounded by mountains (cove)

• The hurricane survival depends on the area you selected for anchoring your boat. Try to look for an area that is surrounded by mountains or hills. The mountains will help in decreasing wind speed.
• If the boat is surrounded by mountains, the mountains will decrease the wind speed by half. The mountains will act as a barrier in protecting your boat by blocking most of the winds caused by the hurricane.

2. Move away from the neighbor boats around you (if any)

• If there are any other sailboats anchored near you, you should be careful. Have some extra dock bumpers attached to your boat. If your neighbor boat starts swinging, your boat is sitting beside to get a hit form them.
• If there are any other boats around you, try to maintain enough distance between your boat and their boat. So, there is enough space for anchoring safely.
• If there are so many boats near your boat, then tie some dock bumpers around your boat. Just in if case any other boat swings or came close to your boat. The dock guards will help you to avoid the damage.

3. Check the depth of the water

• Don’t forget to check the depth of the water, because the whole anchoring process depends on the water depth. Make sure that the depth is not too high or low.

2. Anchoring your boat in a hurricane

After finding the area for anchoring your boat. Anchor your boat with 1 or 2 anchors to avoid the swing.

Now you need to do the essential step for hurricane survival that is anchoring your boat. Since you are facing a hurricane, you need to increase your anchor scope from normal 5:1 to 7:1 or 8:1 or more, depending on the hurricane strength.

Anchor as though you plan to stay for weeks, even if you intend to leave in an hour. Lee Allred

Achor scope refers to how much longer rope or chain you need to use for anchoring your boat. If it is 5:1 anchor scope, then for every 1-meter depth in the water, you should use 5-meters long length rope or chain for anchoring your boat.

Check my article on Choosing a perfect anchor for your boat (don’t worry, it will open in a new tab). In that article, I mentioned all the things you need to consider while buying an anchor for your boat based on the bottom types.

While anchoring your boat in a hurricane, follow these steps

• Check the surroundings
• Use hurricane anchor for anchoring in hurricanes
• If possible, use extra anchors to avoid the swing of the boat

1. Check the surroundings

• While anchoring your boat, make sure that your boat is far away from other boats or ophiolite (An ophiolite is a sequence of rocks that appears to represent a section through the oceanic crust) in the sea.
• Sometimes the boat will swing around the single point (the main anchor) if you are using only one anchor. During the swing, if there are any boats or ophiolite near your boat, you may get hit them with your boat.
• Which might damage your boat. So, try to maintain some distance between them.

2. Use hurricane anchor for anchoring in hurricanes

• Don’t use the same anchor all the time for anchoring your boat. Dedicate one anchor for hurricanes and one for everyday use.
• Try to maintain a separate anchor (strong anchors like Mantus, Manson Supreme, Rocna, etc) for anchoring during a hurricane, and use a normal (small) anchor for general anchoring a boat. It is good to maintain a separate anchor for different needs.
• While buying the anchor, buy an anchor that you can dismantle the anchor into separate parts. So, you can carry big anchors in the boat.

3. If possible, use extra anchors to avoid the swing of the boat

• Use extra anchors to avoid swing around a single point (single anchor). If you anchored your sailboat with a single anchor, it might swing around the point if the wind speed increases or changes the direction.
• To prevent that swing around a single anchor, use an extra 1 or 2 anchors for holding the boat strongly.
• Mostly 2 anchors are sufficient, no need to use 3 anchors.

3. Keep your objects inside the boat during a hurricane

After anchoring your boat, 50% of the work is done. Now, it’s time to pack all the objects which are outside the boat and keep them inside the boat.

Now in this step, you need to do only one thing, just pack the necessary belongings and keep it inside the boat. While doing this step, don’t pack unnecessary belongings and dump them inside the boat, because again you should unpack them after the hurricane. Then you will face difficulty.

Follow these basic steps to do that.

• Keep your belongings which are inside the boat safely
• Then keep the belongings inside, which are outside the boat

1. Keep your belongings which are inside the boat safely

• Before packing up all the outside belongings, and keeping them inside the boat, make sure that the belongings inside the boat are properly packed.
• Keep them inside the cupboard or somewhere to avoid falling off when the boat moves up and down in the waves. Avoid keeping anything in an open cupboard during the hurricane.
• If you have an open cupboard, then remove your belongings from the open cupboard and keep them somewhere else or on the floor.
• They might fall from the cupboard on your body or somewhere else in the boat due to the big waves.

2. Then keep the belongings inside, which are outside the boat

• First, remove the objects that will fly off the boat due to the wind. Like a dinghy, jib sail, and mainsail, etc. So, that nothing will fly off from the boat.
• So pack the belongings which are valuable and keep them inside. The first thing you should do is pack the mainsail and jib sail. This is the second most important thing you should do after anchoring your boat.
• If you are having a big boat, the mainsail will be heavy, and it’s hard to remove by a single person. In that case, just take the mainsail off and tie it to the boom itself.
• And try to remove solar panels, if you have any. Keep them inside the boat if possible, else, tie them outside the boat with extra protection. If the wind speed is around or less than 70 mph, then it is fine to leave them on the boat itself.

You can eliminate all the fears by eliminating all the dangers. Dangers like anchor failure, boat drag, etc. If you can eliminate all these things, then you can be safe inside a boat.

Waves are not measured in feet or inches, they are measured in increments of fear. Buzzy Trent

After packing everything and keeping them inside the boat, now there is nothing more to do. You just need to wait until the hurricane passes away.

Things to do during a hurricane in a sailboat

Now comes the essential part. During a hurricane, stay inside the boat, and stay calm. Most of the time, you should check the boat conditions and act accordingly. Checking the boat regularly during the hurricane is very crucial.

Eat a limited amount of food during a hurricane and try to use less power during the hurricane, because you might not know how long the hurricane will last.

Follow these steps to ensure that your boat is doing well or not?

• Bilge pump checking
• Mainsail checking
• Checking the neighbor boats(if any)

1. Bilge pump checking

• During the hurricanes, however, you locked the doors the water can come inside the boat. So, you should pump them out with the bilge pump.
• Ensure whether your bilge pump is working properly or not, because they often fail. The boat can sink in the water if the bilge pump is not working properly.
• Sometimes, the bilge pump might stop working due to any disturbances outside due to hurricanes. If you are using a manual bilge pump, then it is fine because every time you will check the water level, and you will turn on the pump switch.
• If you using an automatic one, which will detect the water level and automatically turn on the bilge pump switch, to pump the water out.
• The problem with this automatic water detection is it fails so many times. It may fail due to many reasons
• So, every time don’t forget to check the water level in the bilge and don’t forget about the water level detector too.

2. Mainsail checking

• If you already kept the mainsail in the boat, then there is no need to check. You need to check the mainsail if you tied it to the boom and kept it outside the boat
• Tie the mainsail to the boom strongly so that it won’t come out or fly off in the air.

3.Checking the neighbor boats (if there is any boat near you)

• If there are no boats near you, then no need to worry about this.
• If there are any sailboats anchored near you, you should be careful. Have some extra dock bumpers attached to your boat. If your neighbor boat starts swinging, your boat is sitting beside to get a hit form them.
• If there are so many boats near your boat, then tie some dock bumpers around your boat. If in case any other boat swings or came close to your boat. The dock guards will help you to avoid the damage.

Post-hurricane work in a sailboat

• The worst part of the hurricane is over. Now you need to put all the things back on the boat and start the journey.
• Now you need to check the boat and clean the boat if there is any waste on the boat. Then place the solar panels back on the boat to get power.
• After that, remove the anchor and put on your mainsail and jib sail back.

That’s it, you have successfully defeated the hurricane, and now it is time to start your journey. Check this cool video on how to prepare your boat for a hurricane? She explained it very well.

Bottom line

The essential thing for sailing is to practice all the things in advance. You should be aware of what to do during a hurricane, harsh weather, etc. You should have one hurricane plan, and you should practice it regularly.

The essential work you should do when you heard about the hurricane is to move away from the hurricane area, if possible. No matter what, just sail away from the area for 50 km or 100 km. That is the best way to protect yourself and your boat from a hurricane.

Sometimes you might be stuck at someplace, in the sea, it can be due to any reason (engine failure or mainsail damage or something else), during that time, you cant sail the boat, then you need to implement the hurricane survival plan.

If you are in the middle of the hurricane, then it is very hard for survival. The wind speed will be so high, like around 200 mph. At that speed, you can’t control the boat.

So finally, follow some apps or websites like the windy app or AccuWeather website or some other websites for the broadcasting news.

Check my article on Safety tips for boating: A detailed guide (don’t worry, it will open in new tab). In that article, I mentioned all the safety tips for boating in detail.

Related questions

1. What essential things do you need to sail around the world?

There are some essential things you need to have with you, while you are sailing around the world on a sailboat.

• An International Certificate of Competence (ICC) certificate
• A good sailboat (that can withstand extreme weathers)
• Source of passive income
• Passport and visa

If you are interested in that, then check my article on Without these, you can’t sail around the world (don’t worry, it will open in new tab)

2. What is the ideal kind boat to sail around the world?

The best kind of boat for sailing around the world would be Sailboat or yacht.

My name is Mahidhar, and I am passionate about boating. Every day I learn some new things about boats and share them here on the site.

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A Complete Guide To Sailing In A Storm

Sailing in a storm can be a challenging experience but with the right preparation and techniques, it can be navigated safely in most instances.

While it's best to avoid storms when sailing, there are times when storms cannot be avoided.

To sail in a storm:

• Prepare the sailboat for a storm
• Monitor the weather conditions
• Adjust the sailboat to stabilize the vessel in the storm
• Maintain communication with the coast guard

The number one priority when sailing in a storm is safely navigating through the water during these bad weather conditions.

1. Prepare The Sailboat For A Storm

The first step of sailing in a storm is to prepare the sailboat for storm weather conditions.

To prepare a sailboat for a storm:

• Check the rigging & sails : Assess the rigging and sails overall condition. Ensure they are in full working order with no issues with maneuverability or rips in the sails. There should be a storm sail onboard too in preparation for sailing in the storm
• Ensure safety equipment is onboard : Ensure there are liferafts, life jackets for everyone onboard, life buoys, heaving lines, sailing jackets, flashlights, flares, VHF radios, chartplotter/GPS, first aid kits, and fire extinguishers
• Remove the boat canvas/bimini top : In preparation for sailing in a storm, remove the boat canvas/bimini top to prevent it from getting damaged or destroyed or causing injury to passengers onboard ‍
• Ensure loose items are tied down : Any loose items like lines on the deck should be tied down and secured before sailing in a storm. Loose items can become dislodged and damaged or cause injury to passengers onboard if they are not secured during a storm
• Ensure the sailboat's engine is in great condition : Ensure the sailboat's motor is in perfect condition with sufficient oil and fuel to operate during the storm

Preparing the sailboat for a storm will take approximately 30 minutes to complete. This timeframe will vary depending on the size of the vessel and the amount of equipment needed to be purchased and installed onboard.

In preparing for sailing in a storm, there is certain sailboat equipment needed. The equipment needed for sailing in a storm includes a storm sail, heaving lines, sailing jackets, life jackets, life buoys, liferafts, first aid kit, Chartplotter/GPS, fire extinguishers, VHF radio, and flares.

The benefits of preparing the sailboat for a storm are a sailor will be prepared for any issues caused by the storm and a sailor will have the necessary safety equipment to help keep everyone onboard safe during the storm.

One downside of preparing the sailboat for a storm is it can be costly (over $500) especially if the sailor does not have all the right equipment needed to withstand the stormy weather. However, this is a small downside.

2. Monitor The Weather Conditions

The second step of sailing in a storm is to monitor the weather conditions regularly.

To monitor the weather conditions:

• Connect to the VHF radio weather channel : Connect to channel 16 on the VHF radio as this channel provides storm warnings and urgent marine information for boaters
• Use a chartplotter : Modern chartplotters will have marine weather data for boaters to monitor the weather conditions and check windspeeds, rainfall levels, wave height and other relevant marine weather data
• Check a marine weather forecast provider website : If you have internet access on the sailing trip, connect to a marine weather provider for marine weather forecast information in your area

In sailing, weather conditions are considered a storm when the wind speed is 28 knots or higher and the wave heights are 8ft or higher. Other characteristics of stormy weather when sailing is poor visibility with visibility ranges of under half a mile (0.8km or less) and heavy rain with a precipitation rate of at least 0.1 inches (2.5 millimeters) per hour.

It can take approximately 3 to 6 hours for a storm to fully develop when sailing. However, for larger storms, it can take over 2 days for the storm to fully develop.

Monitoring the weather should be done every 20 minutes when sailing in a storm to get up-to-date information on potential nearby locations with better weather to sail to.

The benefit of regularly monitoring the weather conditions is a sailor will be more prepared for the weather that lies ahead and the sailor will be able to make adjustments to their sailing route to help avoid the bad weather.

3. Adjust The Sailboat To Stabilize The Vessel

The third step of sailing in a storm is to adjust the sailboat to stabilize the vessel.

When sailing through the storm, reef the sails to reduce the stress and load on the mast and sails, attach the storm sails, turn the vessel until the wave and wind direction are blowing from the stern of the sailboat, i.e. the wind is blowing downwind. Carefully tack the sailboat slowly until the boat is in the downwind position. Pointing the sailboat downwind is not recommended if the sailboat is near land as it could cause the boat to run into the land.

Alternatively, if the storm is very bad, sailors can perform a "heaving to" storm sailing maneuver.

To perform the heave-to storm sailing maneuver:

• Turn the bow of the boat into the wind : This involves turning the sailboat so that the bow faces into the wind. This will cause the boat to lose forward momentum and begin to drift backward
• Adjust the sails : Depending on the size and configuration of your boat, you may need to adjust the sails in different ways. In general, you will want to position the sails so that they are catching less wind and are working against each other. This will help to slow the boat's drift and keep it from moving too quickly
• Adjust the rudder : You may need to adjust the rudder to keep the boat from turning too far or too fast. In general, you will want to angle the rudder slightly to one side to counteract the wind and keep the boat on a stable course
• Monitor the boat's drift : Once you have heaved-to, you will need to monitor the boat's drift and make small adjustments as needed to maintain your position. This may involve adjusting the sails, rudder, or other factors as conditions change

The heaving to maneuver is used to reduce a sailboat's speed and maintain a stationary position. This is often done in rough weather to provide the crew with a stable platform to work from or to wait out a storm.

This sailing maneuver will adjust the sailboat and should stabilize the vessel in the storm.

The benefits of adjusting the sailboat position in a storm are it will help to stabilize the boat, it will improve safety, it will reduce the crew's fatigue as the crew will not be operating with a boat at higher speeds, it will help maintain control of the sailboat, and it will reduce stress on the sailboat and the rigging system.

Depending on the size of the sailboat, how bad the weather conditions are, and a sailor's experience level, adjusting the sailboat to stabilize it in the storm should take approximately 10 minutes to complete.

4. Maintain Communication With The Coast Guard

The fourth step of sailing in a storm is to maintain communication with the coast guard.

This is particularly important if the storm is over Beaufort Force 7 when sailing is much harder.

To maintain communication with the coast guard during a storm:

• Understand the important VHF channels : During sailing in a storm, be aware of VHF international channel 16 (156.800 MHz) which is for sending distress signals
• Ensure there are coast guard contact details on your phone : Put the local coast guard contact details into your phone. These contact details are not substitutes for using the VHF channel 16 distress signal or dialing 911. These contact details should only be contacted if all else fails

Contacting the coast guard takes less than 1 minute to complete and they are fast to respond in case of an emergency caused by the storm.

The benefits of maintaining communication with the coast guard during a storm are it will help improve safety, the coast guard will be able to provide real-time alerts, and it will provide navigation assistance as the coast guard has access to the latest navigation technology and can guide you through the storm's hazardous areas such as shallow waters or areas with a strong current.

Frequently Asked Questions About Sailing In A Storm

Below are the most commonly asked questions about sailing in a storm.

What Should You Do If You're Caught Sailing In A Storm With Your Boat?

if you're caught sailing in a storm with your boat, you should reef the sails, attach the storm sails and tack the vessel slowly until the wave and wind direction are blowing from the stern of the sailboat.

Should You Drop An Anchor When Sailing In A Storm?

Dropping an anchor can be a useful technique to help keep a boat steady during a storm. However, whether or not to drop an anchor depends on a variety of factors including the size and type of the boat, the severity of the storm, the water depth, and the type of bottom (i.e., mud, sand, or rock).

If you are in a smaller boat that is being pushed around by the waves, dropping an anchor can help keep the boat oriented in a particular direction, reducing the boat's drift. Additionally, it can help reduce the risk of capsizing or being thrown onto a rocky shore.

However, if the storm is very severe with high winds and waves, the anchor may not be enough to hold the boat in place, and it may put undue stress on the anchor and the boat's attachment points. In such a case, it is usually better to try to navigate to a sheltered area or to deploy sea anchors that can help reduce the boat's drift.

It is also essential to be careful when anchoring in a storm as it can be challenging to set the anchor correctly and the wind and waves can cause the anchor to drag.

Is It Safe To Sail In A Storm?

Sailing in a storm should be avoided due to the lack of safety. However, experienced sailors can sail in storms up to Beaufort Force 7 if required. Beaufort Force 8 and higher storms are extremely dangerous to sail in and should be avoided at all costs.

How Do You Improve Safety When Sailing In A Storm?

To improve safety when sailing in a storm, wear a life jacket, hook everyone onboard up to a safety line or harness so they don't fall overboard, reef the sail to improve the sailboat's stability, and understand where all the safety equipment is onboard and how to operate it in case of an emergency.

What Type Of Storm Should Not Be Sailed In?

A sailor should not sail in any storm but especially a storm from Beaufort Force 8 to Beaufort Force 12 as it is considered to be too dangerous.

Can You Sail Through A Hurricane?

While sailors have successfully sailed through hurricanes in the past, sailing through a hurricane should be avoided at all costs. Sailing in hurricane weather is too dangerous and could result in loss of life.

What Are The Benefits Of Sailing In A Storm?

The benefits of sailing in a storm are:

• Improves sailing skills : Sailing in a storm will force sailors to improve their sailing skills and increase their ability to handle rough seas
• Exciting experience : For some sailors, the thrill of navigating through a storm can be an exhilarating experience that they enjoy. The adrenaline rush and sense of accomplishment of successfully sailing through a storm can be incredibly rewarding
• Greater appreciation for the power of nature : Sailing in a storm can provide a unique perspective on the power of nature. It can be humbling and awe-inspiring to witness the raw force of the wind and waves and this can lead to a greater appreciation for the natural world

It's important to note that these potential benefits should never come at the expense of safety. For the majority of sailors, it is smarter to avoid sailing in a storm and instead wait for the bad weather to pass.

What Are The Risks Of Sailing In A Storm?

The risks of sailing in a storm are:

• Boat sinking/capsizing : With high winds over 28 knots and waves and swells at heights over 8ft, there is a risk of the sailboat capsizing and sinking
• People drowning : High winds and high waves during a storm can cause people onboard to fall overboard and drown
• Loss of communication : Bad storm weather can cause the sailboat's communication system to stop working making it much harder to signal for help if needed
• Boat damage : Storm weather can damage the boat including the sails, mast, rigging system, lines, Bimini top, etc.
• Poor visibility : Sea spray, large waves over 8ft, and heavy winds over 28 knots can reduce the visibility to under 500 meters in some instances making it difficult for navigation
• People being injured : People onboard can get injured due to the increase and sharp movements caused by the storm

What Should Be Avoided When Sailing In A Storm?

When sailing in a storm, avoid:

• Getting caught sailing in the storm in the first place : Ideally, a sailor should avoid sailing in the storm in the first place by checking the weather radar and instead wait for the weather to clear before continuing their sailing trip
• Increasing the sail area : Increasing the sail area in a storm should be avoided as it can cause the sailboat to become more unstable and increase the risk of capsizing
• Not wearing a life jacket : Life jackets should be worn at all times when sailing but especially during a storm. Avoid not wearing a life jacket in a storm as there is no protection if someone falls overboard
• Not wearing the appropriate gear to stay dry : Sailors should avoid not wearing the appropriate foul weather gear to stay dry when sailing in a storm
• Not connecting the crew to safety lines/harness : When sailing in a storm, all crew on the boat deck should be
• Not understanding the safety equipment : Sailors should avoid not understanding the safety equipment onboard

How Do You Avoid Sailing In A Storm?

To avoid sailing in a storm, check the weather forecast regularly when going on a sailing trip to know when and where not to sail as the weather gets worse in these areas. If a sailing trip involves passing through a storm, wait in an area where there is no storm until the weather clears up in the storm area before continuing on the voyage.

What Are The Best Sailboats For Sailing In A Storm?

The best sailboats for sailing in a storm are the Nordic 40, Hallberg-Rassy 48, and the Outremer 55.

What Are The Worst Sailboats For Sailing In A Storm?

The worst sailboats for sailing in a storm are sailing dinghies as they offer little protection from the dangers of stormy weather.

What Is The Best Sized Sailboat For Sailing In A Storm?

The best-sized sailboats to sail in a storm are sailboats sized 30ft. and longer.

What Is The Worst Sized Sailboat For Sailing In A Storm?

The worst-sized sailboats to sail in a storm are sailboats sized under 30ft. as it is more difficult to handle rough weather and choppy waves in these boats.

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‘Saildrone’ Footage Offers Rare Peek Inside a Category 4 Hurricane

The 23-foot crewless vessel pierced the eyewall of Hurricane Sam and captured stunning images as the storm barreled through the Atlantic Ocean.

By Vimal Patel

The video looks like it could be b-roll from the 2000 film “The Perfect Storm.”

The camera is tossed around by winds topping 120 miles per hour and waves towering to 50 feet, all amid dense clouds.

But this isn’t Hollywood. The 28-second clip shot by a crewless vessel on Thursday was a first-of-its-kind glimpse from inside a major hurricane, scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said.

The 23-foot vessel pierced the eyewall of Hurricane Sam as it barreled through the Atlantic Ocean. Sam, which peaked as a Category 4 storm , was downgraded to a Category 2 storm on Sunday but was still packing winds of up to 100 m.p.h.

“This is a truly groundbreaking accomplishment because we’ve shown for the first time that it’s possible to send an uncrewed, remote-controlled vehicle on the surface of the ocean directly into a major hurricane — one of the harshest environments on Earth — and we showed that we can retrieve this extremely valuable data from within the hurricane immediately,” Greg Foltz, a NOAA scientist who was involved with the effort, said in an interview on Saturday.

“That’s never been done,” he added.

Dr. Foltz said the knowledge gleaned was critical to improving storm forecasting and reducing the loss of life in coastal communities at a time when climate change is making hurricanes stronger.

The drones, he said, measure key processes that drive hurricane intensification, which is defined as maximum sustained winds strengthening by 30 knots or more within a day. This includes quantifying the exchange of energy between the ocean and the hurricane and the ocean’s frictional effect on the storm, he said.

“This really opens up a whole new realm of possibilities for observing a hurricane,” he said.

Rapid intensification of hurricanes poses a serious threat to coastal communities, Dr. Foltz said.

For example, Hurricane Michael was forecast to arrive in October 2018 as a tropical storm but instead furiously amped up and smashed into the Florida Panhandle with winds topping 155 m.p.h.

The phenomenon “doesn’t happen very often but can be dangerous and is very poorly understood,” he said.

The vehicle that made it into Sam is one of five “Saildrones” that have been gathering data in the Atlantic during hurricane season to better understand the storms.

The hurricane program is the product of a partnership between NOAA and Saildrones Inc., a company based in Alameda, Calif., that manufactures and operates the vehicles. The company got its start with $2.5 million in grants from Eric Schmidt, Google’s former chief executive , and his wife, Wendy Schmidt.

The company’s autonomous vehicles have been deployed for ocean mapping, maritime security and other uses from the Arctic to the Antarctic. But getting inside a hurricane was the “last frontier” of the drones’ survivability, Richard Jenkins, the company’s chief executive, said.

“For our first boat to get through a Category 4 hurricane without any damage is phenomenal from an engineering perspective,” said Mr. Jenkins, a sailor himself. “These are conditions that would sink almost any ship.”

He described the Saildrone as unsinkable and submersible. It “could be held under water for a long time and pop back up,” he said. The Saildrone wing technology allows a mission to last up to 12 months without the need to return to land for maintenance or refueling, the company said.

NOAA has a long-term commitment to advancing drone technology and envisions a fleet of Saildrones operating in the Atlantic during hurricane season each year, Dr. Foltz said. He has short-term plans as well.

“We still have about a month to go in the peak of the hurricane season,” he said. “We hope to get another Saildrone into a hurricane and get more valuable measurements this year.”

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Choosing the Perfect Hurricane Hole

Florida boaters should brace now for ian, projected to become a major hurricane wednesday..

With Tropical Storm Ian entering the Gulf of Mexico and the projected path bringing storm force winds to the Florida Keys by as early as Monday night, boaters there should be activating their hurricane strategy. If this strategy involves moving to a more protected “hurricane hole” they should plan to be safely secured there at least two days before the arrival of storm force winds in their area. Current projections show Ian becoming a hurricane a landfall somewhere along Florida’s West Coast near Tampa Bay late Wednesday night, but this is subject to change.

Waiting too long can bring conditions that will make it much more difficult to secure the boat. And you want to be sure to allow plenty of time for evacuation, if needed. The storm’s intensity can change as it moves up the Gulf, but current projections show Ian to become a major hurricane by the time it crosses the island of Cuba. Boaters in Florida and the Gulf States should monitor updates on Ian at the National Hurricane website.

Keep in mind that there is no guarantee your boat will survive a hurricane, even in the most protected hurricane hole. In a direct hit, your preparation may only mitigate the damage. It is up to the captain to choose a location that will best avoid a direct hit, and offer good protection should the storm swerve in your direction.

No matter how much protection you have, it is not worth the risk to stay on your boat during a hurricane. I’ve done that— as have many cruisers who’ve survived to tell the tale—but I would not do it again. Ultimately, if you’ve done your homework and preparation, there is not much more you can do when the eye-wall arrives.

The problem with staying aboard, even in an ideal location, is that you will find it hard to resist the urge to go on deck when things really get nasty, and the risk of flying projectiles is very real. Two men who stayed on a power boat during Hurricane Andrew in 1992 were swept overboard. During my own brush with Super Typhoon Paka in Guam , a cruising sailor was seriously injured when he tried to tend to his lines at the height of the storm. Going out in the storm for any reason puts you at much higher risk of getting hurt or killed.

Hurricane Preparedness

First and foremost, check with your insurance policy to see if anchoring or shore-tying your boat in a hurricane hole will negate coverage. Some policies stipulate that you stay in a marina ( a risky option ), on a hurricane mooring, or most commonly – haul completely out of the water, a choice which comes with its own unique risks. My own policy is simply a liability policy to cover any damage my boat might cause, so, like many sailors in Florida, my own boat is self-insured. Her survival depends on my preparation. And my hurricane hole.

This article addresses three typical hurricane hole types – storm moorings, creeks and canals where shore-tying is possible, and well-protected waters where you must rely on your own ground tackle. If none of these options appeal to you, see our reports on hurricane storage ashore and preparing for a storm in a marina . This blog focus on selecting a hurricane hole. It does not address the gear, or procedures for securing your boat in the hurricane hole. For that, you can turn to one of our many reports on preparing your sailboat for a tropical storm .

Other Practical Sailor resources include our e-book on Hurricane Preparedness , which cover the topic from every angle, as well as our e-book on Anchors , which includes dozens of anchor tests in various bottoms and specialty ground tackle for storms.

Mooring Fields

Many islands throughout the world have fields of hurricane moorings in coves or harbors that are nearly surrounded by land or breakwaters to protect against breaking seas. These can provide effective protection, especially in smaller, steep-to islands which are not so susceptible to storm surge. In places like Guam, where Typhoons commonly bring 120 mile-per-hour winds at ground level, the hurricane refuge’s mooring system is a four-point system that allows closely spaced boats, and keeps catamarans from going para-gliding. Other refuges use single-point moorings which allow the boats to weathercock toward the wind.

Although not technically regarded as hurricane moorings, the single-anchor elastic mooring systems (lines, buoy, and anchors) found in Florida and other states are often tested to withstand the winds loads (not waves) of a tropical storm. In September 2017, this strength requirement was throughly tested by Hurricane Irma in Boot Key Harbor in The Florida Keys . Although most of the mooring anchors and downlines held, chafed mooring pendants resulted in the loss of many boats.

There are many downsides to a mooring field. The most worrisome risk is that another boat will break free and bear down on yours. This a big concern in any hurricane hole, but mooring fields that pack boats like sardines increase the chance of this. The images take after Hurricane Irma raked the charter fleet in the British Virgin Islands show how this can end.

To conserve space, some mooring fields limit the length of the mooring pennant, the line you supply between the boat and the mooring. As Practical Sailor’s study on hurricane moorings showed, an extra-long mooring pennant protected from chafe is often a key to survival. Using high-quality, new, or nearly new rope for mooring  pennants also increases the odds of survival. If another boat collides with yours– all bets are off no matter how many precautions you took.

The upside of a tested and monitored mooring field is that the equipment has been tested to a published working load limit (WLL). Having a screw-type embedment anchor that has been pull-tested offers confidence in areas of poor holding (rock, grass, soft mud, mud over limestone – etc.) where your own anchors might not hold well. Regardless of how new or reputable the mooring field is, you should carry out a thorough inspection of your own mooring well before the start of hurricane season.

A well-protected creek or canal where you can shore-tie is my preferred type of hurricane hole. Securing the boat with a multiple lines to trees ashore is a usual approach in these areas. You can often add anchors (including ground anchors for ashore) – but the holding is often extremely poor in the creeks or canals.

The advantage of such a location is that you have multiple points to tie into, and if you get pushed onto shore, the mangroves provide a relatively soft landing for your hull. Canals with seawalls do not share this advantage, but a well-fendered boat will have better survival odds.

The disadvantages to this approach are many. Your boat is physically closer to shore and the hard stuff that can hole your boat. Most mangrove areas are routinely inundated by storm surge, reducing much of your protection against the wind and swell. Chafe is an ever-present risk. Some big trees lining canals have weak root systems and are likely to topple.

The canal or creek that is used as a hurricane hole can also increase the risk of a storm surge pile-up. Boats are usually spaced at regular interval along the creek, so if lines part on one of the boats, it can be pushed up or down the creek onto other boats—potentially starting a chain reaction similar to what happens in a mooring field.

Being the first to arrive at a spot well upstream will reduce your vulnerability to this, but it also puts you first inline for downstream debris which can increase the load on your shore-ties.

Another problem in some creeks is that your spider-web of ropes will block traffic up and down the creek, so out of courtesy, you may have to tend your lines, or wait to set them until the approaching storm has put navigation to a stop. On a related note, if there are drawbridges between you and your hurricane hole, operators may stop or limit openings due to high winds and to allow for evacuation by car, so plan accordingly.

If your canal or creek is adjacent to private property, you may be sued for any damage your boat causes. The laws dealing with this are complicated and vary by state, so you’ll want to do your homework. Check with the regulatory agency charged with navigation enforcement in the area, and double-check your insurance policy.

In addition, many of these areas are in protected environmental areas, so, you might also be fined and held liable for environmental harm if you’re found to have neglected your responsibility. Again, if you have any doubts, check with the agency in charge of enforcement in the area. In general, when storms threaten, the law allows individuals take all necessary measures to protect their property, so long as this is not unduly endangering others or their property.

The hurricane strategy of anchoring in a well-protected lagoon, cove creek, or estuary is a common in many areas of the country and in the Caribbean. These hurricane holes have been a savior for cruisers stuck in the hurricane belt during high season. They also yield some of the most dramatic images of post-storm damage. The hurricane holes used for anchoring are very similar to the mooring field option, with the added risk of having your anchor drag. There might be a slightly lower risk of collision from a stray boat – it will depend on the number of boats.

Your success in this type of hurricane hole will rely greatly on how well you and your neighbors set and manage your ground tackle. Some boaters like to make their own “hurricane mooring” using multiple anchors. If it is a river or creek, the influence of floodwaters and strong tides is an added danger. Storm debris can quickly wrap around a rode and dislodge your anchor.

Prepare Now

Which type of hurricane hole, if any is best for you? Clearly this will vary by location. You may have very few options within easy reach. Or you might have several. Whatever you choose, the time to start preparing is now, well before hurricane season.

Dedicate some time early this summer to take a dry-run to your chosen spot. Strip the boat and deploy the gear as you would use it. This will give you a clear picture of how much time you need.

Despite the advanced warnings for named storms, there never seems to be enough time to make all the necessary preparations. And once the weather starts to deteriorate, setting storm gear becomes difficult and exhausting – if you can reach the hurricane hole at all.

Your chances of survival will depend greatly on the path of the storm. There is a big difference in a direct impact and a glancing blow. Ideally, you should have two or more spots chosen. This allows you flexibility to stay out of the hurricane’s direct path. Most cruising guides in tropical areas identify popular hurricane refuges, but local sailors often know some off-the-beaten track places where the risk of collision with another boat is lower.

For a complete guide to preparing your boat for a hurricane, where ever you are, Practical Sailo r’s new four-volume “ Hurricane Preparedness Guide ” ebook explores in-depth the gear and best practices for securing your boat in a hurricane hole, on a mooring, or in a marina. Provided detailed explanations of the specialized equipment, and anchoring and mooring techniques proven to keep your boat safe when you have no choice to “weather the storm” in harbor, it deserves a place on every voyaging sailors digital bookshelf.

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Everything you say here makes perfect sense and reflects my experience of decades of cruising and living aboard in hurricane prone waters. Yes, I stayed onboard for a class 1+ hurricane. And NO I would not do it again. I also had the total loss of my live aboard cruising boat/home. Note: I lost my beloved boat but not by beloved Wife’s life nor mine! You just don’t mess with class 5! Or any hurricane. The best strategy by far is any way possible, get the heck out of the way! I adopted a strategy in the E Caribbean that worked. Every hurricane season we sailed south to Trinidad. They are south of the hurricane belt. I had friends that would go to well known “hurricane holes” Like Simpson Bay St Maartin. I was in Trinidad when hurricane Lewis hit St Maartin and surrounding area. Thousands of boats lost and hundreds of lives of sailors many who were never found. The loss of my boat was terrible as I had put years of sweat, blood and money into her. A year later we were fully alive and well to continue our cruising life in another boat. Had we stayed on board, like so many, we would have died and the boat would not have mattered one iota.

Fred Read’s comment is valuable, especially “get the heck out of the way!”. Leading from this, to offer an alternative to yachtsmen (under sail ; I have no idea how to deal with this situation without sails) who have no suitable bolt-hole ; could you add some advice about sailing around the edges ? With modern weather information giving hour-by-hour advice about the storm’s progress towards the boat, would it be possible to wait for the wind to strengthen and start to back northwards (northern hemisphere, it’s the other way round down south of course) ; then use the strengthening wind to sail out to sea, and head south under only a storm headsail/jib ? Plan a route which gives sea-room, particularly if there are surrounding islands or coastlines. Keep the wind broadly astern over the port quarter, and sail around the fringe of the rotating storm by continually heading slightly to port. Be prepared for very large waves, but given a well-prepared and seaworthy boat, with a crew who can adapt to such frightening seas, would it be possible to sail around ‘behind’ the storm and so come back to port, eventually, after it has tracked through ? Of course, there’s the risk that the storm’s direction of travel (I don’t mean the wind direction) could change. Take a spare GPS chart-plotter, plus a spare handheld GPS, and paper charts of the extended region. If you allow your position to be governed by the wind direction (as above) any shift in the storm’s direction of travel should be apparent as your position advances, and navigation allowances made as necessary. To those who enjoy sea-sailing this could be a very rewarding experience, and it removes the boat from most of the threats which you list in your excellent-as-always article. Keep the VHF on channel16 and transmit a position report every half hour, both to inform others and to reduce collision risk (visibility will be low). Unless I’ve overlooked some major stupidity in this suggestion, it’s one which would appeal to me. I should add that it’s probably suitable only for liveaboards, or for those with time to spare and live ashore very near to their boats. I hope this helps someone, but I realise that most boats will have to accept the risks of the best-available mooring and hope that the insurance will pay up !. Rob Neal.

In answer to Rob, as a former CG pilot who rescued a delivery crew from a 40ft sailboat during the 1991 Halloween Hurricane (later changed to the Perfect Storm), most modern boats are built well enough to survive a hurricane in the open ocean. In general, the crew isn’t. Severe seasickness, bruises and possible broken bones, dehydration, and significant degradation of your mental capabilities should be expected during the normal 3-4 days of hurricane passage. And in general, CG (or anybody else) rescue during the hurricane isn’t practical – the odds of your boat remaining intact are substantially better than your chances of a successful helicopter hoist – which will have to be done after you jump overboard because the swinging of the masts and rigging make threading the hoist to the deck impossible.

I liken the mental challenge of a hurricane in a sailboat to the more severe “Naked and Afraid” challenges, but with no tap out available if things go really wrong. Some are mentally strong enough, many are not.

Great article.

Rio Dulce, Guatemala ………. hauled out…………… with me safe in Antigua ahore in my opinion is safest place to be with threatening hurricaine in W Caribbean. Then, I would worry about a earthquake.

Actually, one of the better articles on hurricanes and hurricane holes, made even better by the replies. As a California, now Washington, sailor, I do not know much about hurricane holes, except what I have read over the years.

To me, the biggest missing piece of information is the location of such holes in places where they are needed and to be found. For example, know of no hurricane hole guide to the Carribean let alone any place therein. Ditto mainland Mexico, and the Gulf Coast. Need I mention Florida? My general feeling is the locals know, but letting the information out may increase the danger that results from overcrowding the already overcrowded.

Starting and updating a guide to hurricane holes sounds like a wonderful thing for someone with knowledge to accomplish.

And I forgot to mention the Pacific, or more specifically the west coast of Mexico and central America, as well as the islands all over the place there.

I won’t be the only one hoping that my preparations are adequate. I’m in Largo, Fl in a bay off the ICW. The bay is 11′ deep, about half a mile diameter. 8 other boats well-spaced but some not well tended. I have a 60 lb. anchor on 180′ of 5/16 chain and snubber. I stripped the three booms (Dickerson 36 ketch) and sails and stowed them below. A devout atheist, I try not to pray.

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What to Do With Your Sailboat During a Hurricane

It’s that time of year when the air temperature cools down and the warm temperatures of the water cause a slurry of tropical storms and hurricanes. Since we are staring into the face of some big hurricanes and tropical storms on both coasts this month, we thought now would be a great time to go over some things you’ll need to know about what to do with your sailboat during a hurricane.

What to do with your sailboat during a hurricane if it is on land

• Sailboat on its Trailer – Inspect the boat and trailer and make sure everything is working properly. Check all the tires, spare tire, lights and signals, wheel bearings and tow hitch. If possible, keep it as far away from the coast as possible and put it in a garage or under sturdy protection. You’ll also want to weigh down your boat. Leave the drain plug in and fill it with fresh water if you have an outboard motor. If you have an inboard motor you can place wood blocks in between the trailer and the springboards to help weigh down the boat.

What to Do if Your Sailboat Has to Stay in the Water

• Sailboat At the Dock – If possible berth your boat at a dock that has some sort of shelter and isn’t located in the low lands. Make sure to pull out all the bumpers, fenders and fender boards and place them in crucial places were your boat might bump or wear. Double up on the mooring lines but leave enough slack so that boat can rise with the surges.
• Sailboat at Anchor – If your boat has to be in the water, anchoring or mooring your boat tends to be safer than at the dock since ideally, there is less chance that your boat will run into anything. Dig out your strongest anchor for the storm. In fact, you should probably place a few anchors and face your boat into the wind. The ratio you are looking for on each line attached to each anchor is 10:1.
• Sailboat in a Hurricane Hole – This is the most ideal place for your boat during a storm. When trying to locate a good hurricane hole, you’ll want one that has several good sturdy trees to attach your boat to. You are also looking for one more upland and inland. Generally, the farther away from the coast you are, the safer your boat will be. If possible, look for a cove or inlet designated as a hurricane hole that generally blocks wind coming from the direction of the hurricane. For example, most hurricanes on the East coast tend to come from the southeast, so finding a hurricane hole that blocks a southeast wind is best. For Virginia boaters, read this article by Tom Hale and Sail Magazine for the best hurricane holes.

Sailboat Safety First

• It NOT a good idea to stay with your boat. Make sure you have taken down and put away anything that is not directly attached to your boat.
• Check the weather forecast before setting out. Hurricanes should not be taken lightly and your safety and the safety of those on board comes first.
• Keep a radio on board and know what frequency you can use to transmit a distress call with the coast guard or lake patrol and hear the weather forecast.
• Always wear a life jacket and make sure you have enough jackets for each person on board.

Hopefully this will help you have a better idea of what to do with your sailboat during a hurricane. Let us know if you have tips or tricks to keeping your sailboat safe during a hurricane. Stay safe sailors!

If you are an inland and lake sailor see our article on what to do on sailboat during a storm .

Chesapeake Bay Hurricane Holes by Tom Hale, Sailfeed from Sail Magazine

Protecting Your Boat During a Hurricane

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“Hurricane Sam” Saildrone Sails Back into the Eye of the Storm

SD 1045 bravely sails toward weather offshore from Charleston, SC.

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In the early morning hours of Sept. 30, 2021, the Saildrone team—mission managers, pilots, and software and hardware engineers—along with our science partners at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), anxiously watched as Saildrone Explorer SD 1045 sailed closer and closer to a category 4 hurricane. They didn’t make any effort to direct the saildrone away from the storm—their goal was to get the vehicle inside it.

Battling massive waves and winds over 100 mph, SD 1045 not only survived Hurricane Sam intact but collected important data about the physical interactions between the ocean and atmosphere that revealed new insights about hurricane intensification.

This summer, SD 1045 has been redeployed for the 2023 Atlantic hurricane season to continue its mission at the forefront of cutting-edge hurricane research.

A massive wave captured by SD 1045’s onboard camera during Hurricane Sam.

“SD 1045 sailing through the eye of Hurricane Sam was really a seminal moment for this field campaign with NOAA, proving that we actually could sail into a major hurricane and deliver data in near real time to scientists to help them improve weather forecasting,” said Matt Womble, Sr. Director of Ocean Data Programs. “To redeploy SD 1045 this year for the same mission demonstrates the endurance, durability, and reliability of the vehicles Saildrone has built.” 

Hurricane track forecasting has steadily improved in recent years. However, predicting rapid intensification—when wind speeds increase at least 35 mph over a 24-hour period—is still a significant challenge. To understand how these large and destructive storms grow, scientists need to collect data about the surface fluxes—the exchanges of energy in the forms of heat and momentum—a task that Saildrone’s uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) are uniquely equipped to perform.

SD 1045 is one of 12 vehicles Saildrone has deployed for NOAA this summer. The saildrones will transmit high-frequency metocean data continuously through tropical storms and hurricanes, including air temperature and relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind speed and direction, water temperature and salinity, sea surface temperature, and wave height and period to scientists at NOAA’s Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory (AOML) and Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory (PMEL).

While Saildrone has sailed vehicles through Hurricane Sam and Hurricane Fiona, data from one or two hurricanes is not enough; scientists need data from multiple storms, big and small, to draw robust conclusions about how they intensify.

After deployment from Charleston, SD 1045 began sailing ESE to a mission domain area that spans North and South Carolina, where it will be stationed for the duration of the mission. NOAA has identified areas where the saildrones have a high probability of intercepting a storm, as indicated by historical data. 

“Off the coast of South Carolina is a particularly complex area of the ocean with relatively shallow waters combined with the strong, warm currents of the Gulf Stream that supply energy to a storm. When hurricanes go over these warm waters, they often intensify, potentially right before they make landfall, so it’s really important to understand how the ocean interacts with the storms in this area,” said Greg Foltz, a NOAA oceanographer and one of the mission’s principal investigators.

Saildrone’s environmentally friendly uncrewed surface vehicles (USVs) are designed to perform multiple long-endurance missions over many years. Powered exclusively by the wind for propulsion and solar energy for onboard computers and sensors, the 23-foot Saildrone Explorer can deliver maritime data continuously for up to a year to meet a variety of science, mapping, and security objectives. 

Prior to the 2021 Atlantic Hurricane mission, SD 1045 sailed from San Francisco to Eugene, OR, to San Diego, and back to San Francisco on a 60-day NOAA mission to assess stocks of Pacific hake and five coastal pelagic species along the US West Coast. Saildrones SD 1031 and SD 1040 have been deployed for all three hurricane missions, among others—SD 1031 previously completed a fisheries mission in the North Sea , and SD 1040 was also used for the 2019 West Coast Fisheries mission.

Read more: More Saildrones Than Ever Deploy for the 2023 Hurricane Season!

For media assets or interview requests, use our media contact form.

Gregory R. Foltz, Chidong Zhang, Christian Meinig, Jun A. Zhang, and Dongxiao Zhang, "An Unprecedented View Inside a Hurricane," Eos , May 6, 2022

Porter Fox, “The Tiny Craft Mapping Superstorms at Sea,” The New York Times Magazine , May 9, 2023 

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, “NOAA Predicts a Near-normal 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season,” noaa.gov, press release, May 25, 2023

NOAA Atlantic Oceanographic & Meteorological Laboratory, “Five Ways NOAA’s Research Improves Hurricane Forecasts,” aoml.noaa.gov, blog post, May 23, 2023

NOAA Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory, “2023 NOAA-Saildrone Atlantic Hurricane Mission,” pmel.noaa.gov, web page, accessed June 29, 2023

NOAA Research, “NOAA Deploys Drones in the Ocean and Atmosphere to Advance Hurricane Forecasting,” research.noaa.gov, blog post, June 28, 2023

NOAA Research, “Measuring Salt in the Ocean May Be Key to Predicting How Hurricanes Strengthen,” article, December 16, 2021

The New Gold Standard for Autonomous Systems: Saildrone Voyager Is First USV to Earn Formal Classification

The American Bureau of Shipping issued the first-ever classification for a commercial autonomous, uncrewed vehicle to Saildrone for the 10-meter Voyager.

Closing Ocean Exploration Gaps in Remote Waters

The Saildrone Surveyor, the world’s largest uncrewed ocean mapping vehicle, has mapped more than 13,112 square nautical miles (17,375 square miles) of previously unexplored ocean floor during a months-long survey around Alaska’s Aleutian Islands and off the coast of California.

A New Era of Hurricane Observing and Forecasting

NOAA and Saildrone sent five autonomous vehicles into the Tropical Atlantic and successfully collected data of ocean-atmospheric interaction inside a major hurricane, which had never been done before by any uncrewed surface vehicle.

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Better Sailing

Can a Sailboat Survive a Hurricane?

Are you about to set sail but you check the forecast and learn that your boat is in the path of an impending hurricane? So, what exactly do you have to do? Slack the lines, and seek for a hurricane hole where you can ride out the storm? On the other hand, if you don’t have time, you may have no choice but to tow the boat. Or perhaps you believe you’re safe on the dock and your only option is to double the dock lines and pray for the best. All sailors must be able to properly prepare for a storm, but what is the best technique? In this article, I’m going to analyze this subject as well as answer if a sailboat can survive during a hurricane. So, keep reading!

Hurricane Information

A hurricane, sometimes known as a cyclone or typhoon, is a tropical rotating storm in the North Atlantic Ocean. They also occur in the Caribbean Sea or the Gulf of Mexico with sustained winds of 74 mph or higher. Hurricanes only form over warm tropical oceans, usually above 27°C (81°F). You might also wonder when hurricanes strike. Hurricanes are known to strike the Northern Hemisphere during the months of June and November. Hurricanes, on the other hand, are more common in the Southern Hemisphere between December and May. The ‘hurricane season’ for a certain region is defined as the time of year when hurricanes strike that area.

Strong winds spiral inward and upward at speeds of 75 to 200 mph. And, they can be up to 600 miles across. Each hurricane lasts about a week and travels at 10 to 20 miles per hour over open water. Hurricanes gain energy and heat by interacting with warm ocean waters. The evaporation of seawater boosts hurricanes’ strength. In the Northern Hemisphere, hurricanes rotate counter-clockwise around an “eye,” while in the Southern Hemisphere, they rotate clockwise. The calmest area of the storm is the center, or “eye.” There are only low winds and pleasant weather in the center. Heavy rain, strong winds, and enormous waves can cause damage to buildings, trees, and automobiles when they arrive on land.

Hurricanes only form over extremely warm ocean water, at 80 degrees Fahrenheit or more. The atmosphere (air) must cool down quickly as you go higher. In order to force air upward from the water surface, the wind must also be blowing in the same direction and at the same speed. Above the storm, winds blow outward, allowing the air below to rise. Hurricanes are most common between the latitudes of 5 and 15 degrees north and south of the equator. The Coriolis Force creates the spin in a cyclone, but it is too weak near the equator to create storms.

Although hurricanes and cyclones occur all around the world, some locations are more vulnerable than others. When a hurricane strikes the North Atlantic, the United States, Canada, and Mexico, as well as the Caribbean Sea, are likely to be affected as well. Hawaii and the western coast of Mexico will be affected if it occurs in the Eastern Pacific. Typhoons that form in the western Pacific are more likely to strike Japan, China, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia. Cyclones from the Indian Ocean regularly hit Southeast Asian countries, including the Indian subcontinent. Tropical cyclones in the southern Indian Ocean might hit Madagascar and countries along Africa’s east coast in the Southern Hemisphere. Cyclones that originate in the southeastern Indian Ocean are more likely to hit Australia’s northern coast.

Plan Ahead and Know the Facts

Actually, if you receive a hurricane warning, you usually only have 72 hours to prepare. As a result, having a plan in place before a hurricane strike is crucial. One of the greatest solutions is to find a hurricane hole away from the storm. But, this requires planning and the capacity to jump on your boat and relocate it. And any time you decide to get in the water, you must rely on every boat upwind of you to stay put. And, this can be risky. You must be quite cautious about where you choose to be. And, if the wind direction does not match the forecast, you may find many boats upwind of you that you did not expect to see.

The truth is that you are completely reliant on others. While taking your boat to a hurricane hole to ride out the storm is an option for some, there are two major considerations. Firstly, you must have enough time to move your boat and place your anchors before the storm hits. And, you must trust the other boaters who are holed up with you. If these issues are a problem, you may need to consider other solutions. Hauling the boat is one apparent option. Having the boat out of the water significantly improves your chances of survival. If something goes wrong when the boat is on the hard, the damage is most likely repairable.

When a boat is damaged in the water, it usually sinks. Again, this will require planning and time. But, carrying your boat is usually easier than heading to a storm hole. Also, most boatyards will be able to help you if you get in line early enough. However, being hauled out does not guarantee your safety. You must still prepare the boat for the approaching storm. You should remove all canvas, sails, bimini tops, and other accessories, as well as everything else off the deck, and make sure the boat is watertight.

>>Also Read: Why Do Boat Insurance Companies Require Hurricane Plans?

What to Do To Avoid Hurricanes

In an ideal situation, you should relocate your boat and sail away from the hurricane. Keep in mind that the hurricane’s center has winds of 200 mph or more. Also, note that the wind increases less the further you sail from the hurricane’s center. So, if you sail 50 to 100 miles away, you’ll be in a safer location.

One thing about storms is that you know what is their direction at least a week ahead of time, so you’ll have plenty of time to get out before the hurricane arrives. This ensures that both you and your boat are safe and secure. During severe storms, the second option is to seek shelter in a hurricane hole. Hurricane holes are bays and harbors, or deep, narrow coves or inlets covered by trees. They provide the finest spots to tie off your anchor lines and prevent the wind and waves. The finest hurricane holes are uncrowded areas that are far enough inland. They’re able to avoid wind and surges while still being close enough to be easily reached from the land. Hurricane holes exist in places like Guatemala, the Caribbean, Cuba, and Haiti. It’s of great importance to locate a protected hurricane hole in the area where you will be sailing ahead of time.

Secure the Boat with Anchors

The anchors and anchor rodes are subjected to severe forces during strong storms and hurricanes. So, you have to choose a reliable anchor. Helix Anchors are one of the best on the market, according to BoatUS, since they screw into the water surface. Note that Helix Anchors are far more powerful than Mushroom or other forms of anchors. They can hold between 12,000 and 20,000 pounds of weight that cannot be wrenched free. To have sufficient protection from the hurricane’s enormous wind surges, it’s critical to employ several anchors. You can also use Setting Tandem Anchors or anchors in several directions. If you have two large anchors, space them about 90 degrees apart in the direction of the expected wind.

Reduce Windage

Whether your boat is at anchor, moored, docked, or even hauled out, decreasing windage is critical. This is because it reduces stress on the boat and its attachment points. Even when the boat is at anchor or moored, it virtually never rests precisely head to wind. You can almost always be sure it won’t be facing directly into the wind if you’re at a dock, tied to mangroves, or in a boatyard. Note that the narrower the boat’s profile, the less surface area for the wind to hit it. Overall, the rig is less stressed, and the boat heels less. This will also reduce chafing on lines, and lower the load on the anchor, mooring, dock, or whatever else the boat is linked to. Keep in mind that you have to remove canvas, dodgers and biminis, dinghy, and the genoa as well. Remove and stow the mainsails as well.

Plan Wisely

Always stay informed on hurricanes and heavy storms wherever you sail. Use resources like Boatus.com and Global Weather Tracker to acquire the most up-to-date information on hurricanes. If you intend to haul or relocate your boat, make sure to notify your marina operator ahead of time. It is common knowledge that boats kept on land are far safer than those kept in the sea. In addition, it is important to understand the insurance policy as well as the marina contracts. For example, prior to a storm or hurricane, it is usual for insurance companies to reimburse up to 50% of the cost of carrying or transferring your vessel.

If your boat must be in the water, you have to relocate it to a hurricane hole or other location with the least amount of storm damage. Canals are ideal hiding spots since they allow you to tighten lines on both sides of the boat, preventing it from moving and wobbling. When a storm or hurricane looms, you have to take the necessary precautions ahead of time. Plan ahead of time and think of where your vessel will best survive the storm. Prepare a hurricane hole where you may dock your boat throughout the storm. You can minimize the risk of damage by picking the most storm-safe position well before the forecast predicts the hurricane, according to insurance claim files.

Bear in mind that the captain’s seamanship is the most important factor. In other words, if he or she is far from land or other hazards and knows how to steer the boat through the hurricane or storm. A large and seaworthy sailboat that is mostly for cruising rather than racing is also much better to have.

How To Prepare for Hurricanes

If you’re going to stay on a dock, you’ll want to go to a marina with large pilings. Nowadays, and especially in vulnerable hurricane areas, many marinas are working to raise piling heights. The boats are better placed where they can be contained in the marina, as compared to those on the hard who can be hoisted up and swept away by the surge. Many marinas and boatyards are implementing a new approach that is a variation of the classic method. This method refers to hauling out and tying down the boat using construction-style tow straps tied to firm points on the ground. This keeps the boats in their jack stands regardless of how high the storm surge reaches.

Many marinas now have hardpoints to which straps can be fastened. This secures down the boats when they’re on the hard. And the standard has been that boats are either stored in storm-resistant storage structures or are tied down. If the boats don’t lift off the jack stands then the water level isn’t high enough to flood the boats. For sailors hauling out their boats, this combination of hauling the boat, sealing it tight, and tying it down appears to be the best solution.

Finding a hurricane hole is one possibility, but you’ll need the time to do so and be continuously mindful of other vessels around and their capacity to hold their ground. You can keep your boat lashed to the dock at the marina, but if the storm surge becomes too high, your boat may float away. You can tow the boat, but you must ensure that it’s well-secured so that the rain doesn’t flood it. Bear in mind that you must contend with the potential of a storm surge sweeping your boat away.

Again, sailors must be aware of everything. In other words, ensuring that everything is watertight, clearing everything off the deck, and stripping all canvas. When you do that leave the boat on the hard tied down to several hardpoints and physically anchor it to the pavement. This will keep it secure and give you the best chance of making it through the storm.

Being Onboard During the Hurricane

Keep in mind that you are on your own during the hurricane. There is no one to assist you, and you will be unable to assist others. Of course, you have your crew but still, everyone has to take care of themselves before assisting others. Because the status of the boat and the storm might alter in just a second, make sure you have everything you need on hand and ready.

Note that you should wear appropriate gear. During the hurricane, it will be damp, rainy, and possibly cold. Wetsuits, waterproof shoes, or boots are a must during a storm. If you’re on the deck, make sure you’re wearing a life jacket and harness. Using your snorkel masks is quite practical because it is much easier to keep watch and breathe during a severe storm.

Don’t omit to check your anchor lines and chafe gear for safety on a regular basis. Make sure they’re in good working order and don’t have damages. High waves and rain will fill your boat with water, so keep in mind that you might need to use the bilge pump occasionally. Keep an eye on the deck as well as the radar or GPS during the storm. Lastly, consider if you’re dragging or whether another boat is dragging towards you.

Can Sailboats Survive Hurricanes? – The Bottom Line

Bear in mind that it is not just the sailor who must adapt to a hurricane, but also the infrastructure for protection that has to improve. And it’s a problem that we’ll almost certainly see more of in the future. Based on rising sea levels and storm concentration, we’re fairly confident that surges will become a more essential feature of storms. Moreover, if global warming continues at its current rate, sea levels and storm strength will grow, making this a bigger problem.

When hauling your boat and preparing for a hurricane, there are a few things you should do. Firstly, remove everything on your canvas, including sails, coverings, biminis, and seat cushions. Make sure your boat is completely watertight by closing all hatches and sealing any leaks. There is going to be a lot of rain, so you must be well-prepared. If possible, use tow-straps to secure the boat to hardpoints on the ground. Furthermore, turn off all of your boat’s electronics and disconnect the batteries. In case your boat fills up with water, you’ll want to do everything you can to avoid damages to the electronics. If you have a propane burner, turn it off and disconnect and remove the tank. And, this applies to any additional oil cans, gas cans, or other combustible items from the boat.

I hope that this article has answered your questions and provided all the adequate information you need to know about hurricanes. I wish you all safe & pleasant voyages!

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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Sailboat Cruising and Lifestyle Magazine.

How to Prepare for Hurricane Season on a Sailboat

Preparing a sailboat for hurricane season, three ways to come out of the storm intact.

Hurricane season is a time of high risk for sailboat owners, especially those who live in coastal areas prone to storms. Hurricanes can cause severe damage to boats, docks, marinas, and anchorages, as well as endanger the lives of boaters and their families. Therefore, it is essential to have a plan for how to protect your sailboat from a hurricane and to act on it before it is too late.

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Three Ways to Secure a Sailboat in a Hurricane

There are three main options for securing your sailboat during a hurricane: tying up at a marina, anchoring in a protected harbor, or hauling out on land. Each option has its advantages and disadvantages, depending on the location, condition, and design of your boat and the marina or harbor. Here are some tips for choosing and preparing your boat for each option.

Tying up at a Marina During Hurricane Season

If you decide to keep your boat at a marina during hurricane season, you should look for a berth that is sheltered from open water and storm surge, has sturdy pilings and cleats, and has an established hurricane plan. You should also coordinate with the dockmaster and other boat owners to ensure that everyone follows the same procedures and guidelines.

Some of the steps you should take to tie up your boat at a marina are:

• Use long lines (at least as long as your boat) to allow for tidal fluctuations and wind shifts. Use chafe protectors on all lines to prevent them from wearing out.
• Use spring lines to prevent your boat from moving forward or backward too much. Use fenders or fender boards to cushion your boat from the dock or other boats.
• Point your bow toward the least protected direction or open water, if possible. This will help your boat face the wind and waves better.
• Remove or secure any loose items on your boat, such as canvas, sails, bimini tops, cushions, antennas, etc. These items can be torn off by strong winds or become projectiles that can damage your boat or others.
• Make sure your boat is watertight and seal any leaks or openings. Close all hatches, ports, vents, and seacocks. Check your bilge pumps and batteries to make sure they are working properly.
• Disconnect shore power and water hoses. Turn off all electrical devices and appliances on board.

Anchoring a Sailboat During a Hurricane

If you choose to anchor your boat in a protected harbor during a hurricane, you should look for a location that has good holding ground, adequate depth, minimal fetch, and few obstructions. You should also scout the area beforehand and get permission from the authorities if necessary.

Some of the steps you should take to anchor your boat in a harbor are:

• Use two or more anchors of adequate size and weight for your boat. Set them at different angles and distances from your boat to create a wide swing radius and reduce strain on each anchor.
• Use heavy-duty chain or nylon rode with adequate scope (at least 10 times the depth) for each anchor. Use chafe protectors on all rode segments that may rub against anything.
• Use swivels or bridles to connect multiple rodes to your bow cleat or chain plate. This will allow your boat to rotate around the anchors without twisting the rodes.
• Remove or secure any loose items on your boat, as mentioned above.
• Make sure your boat is watertight and seal any leaks or openings, as mentioned above.

Hauling out a Sailboat During a Hurricane

If you have the option to haul out your boat on land during a hurricane, you should do so as soon as possible. Hauling out your boat reduces the risk of sinking, flooding, collision, or theft. However, you should still take precautions to prevent wind damage or falling debris.

Some of the steps you should take to haul out your boat are:

• Choose a reputable boatyard that has a secure storage area, adequate equipment, and insurance coverage. Make reservations in advance and confirm them before hauling out.
• Remove all drain plugs from your hull.

Which Method of Hurricane Prep Do You Prefer?

Drop us a comment down below. Which method is safest for you? Why do you prefer one way over the other?

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Where to Sail During Hurricane Season

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

June 15, 2022

Sailing during hurricane season is possible with planning, technology, and the right location. However, many safer locations exist for summer sailing.

Hurricane season is a hazardous time for sailors in gulf and Atlantic-coast states such as Texas, Florida, and the Carolinas. Despite this, sailors still venture out during peak tropical storm season. Sailing during hurricane season is safer in northern latitudes and inland areas, such as the Great Lakes and the Pacific Coast.

Table of contents

‍ Why are Hurricanes Dangerous to Sailboats?

Hurricanes are enormous tropical storms that can stretch over 300 miles across. They develop and intensify, gaining strength and moving (most often) northeast from the Gulf of Mexico or South Atlantic to the North.

High Winds and Rough Seas

Hurricanes are dangerous to sailboats for a few reasons. The most destructive force of a hurricane is its wind, which can exceed 157 mph in major Category-5 storms. High winds and perilous seas can effortlessly founder and sink a large boat and positively erase a small sailboat .

Storm Surge

Hurricanes tend to stall and weaken over land, at which point they devolve into less intense bands of thunderstorms and rain clouds. However, docking your boat close to shore doesn't mean it's safe from the effects of a strong hurricane.

A storm surge often closely follows a hurricane. During a storm surge, large waves beat down anything along the coast that isn't bolted or cemented into bedrock.

Seawater floods inland and overflows rivers, lakes, and neighborhoods with up to 30 feet of water. Boats caught in a storm surge get washed inland and pounded to bits against buildings, cars, trees, and infrastructure.

How to Protect your Sailboat from Hurricanes

The best way to protect your sailboat from a hurricane is to get out of its way. Depending on the strength of the storm, this won't always be necessary—but it's wise to seek shelter whenever a powerful hurricane tracks towards your home port.

When is Hurricane Season?

Atlantic hurricane season officially begins on June 1st and ends on November 30th. Hurricane season is when tropical storms are most common, but cyclones occur year-round on the Atlantic ocean.

Hurricanes have occurred in March, December, and virtually every month in between. The reason why hurricane season starts during the summer is that temperature and pressure conditions are prime for storm development.

Hurricane season timing is unfortunate, as the summer months are prime sailing season in the coastal states. As a result, thousands of sailboats take to the water during hurricane season and sometimes encounter extreme conditions.

What States Should Worry about Hurricanes?

Hurricanes primarily affect the gulf coast, and Atlantic states, as tropical conditions further south produce northward-moving storms during the peak months.

Most Hazardous Hurricane States

The most hazardous states for hurricanes are Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina. These states take a direct broadside from hurricanes, which often make landfall on their shores wreak havoc inland.

Additional Hurricane Threat States

States further north also have hurricane-related hazards, especially on the coast. These states include Virginia, Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, a tiny sliver of New Hampshire, and Maine.

Inland Hurricane Hazards

Inland states such as Arkansas and Tennessee are sometimes affected by flooding after a hurricane makes landfall, which can make river and lake conditions hazardous as well. This effect is much less significant inland.

Where are Hurricanes Dangerous to Sailboats?

Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, and North Carolina have the most dangerous hurricane activity for sailboats. This is due to storm surges, high winds, and other phenomena that can damage boats both at sea and in the marina.

The most hazardous places to be during hurricane season is the southeastern tip of Florida. This also happens to be a common starting point for boats sailing to the Bahamas during the summer months.

South Texas is a fairly rough spot during hurricane season as well, with the most dramatic storm surges occurring around the Houston and Galveston area. The southernmost coastal areas of Louisiana and Mississippi tend to experience frightening conditions as well.

Sailing in these areas (or simply mooring your sailboat) during hurricane season is precarious and risky compared to safer northern and inland areas.

Hurricane-Safe Sailing Areas

If you live in one of the hurricane-prone coastal states and want to minimize the risks, there are locations you can retreat to and still continue to sail. Here are two alternatives to bluewater sailing during hurricane season.

Lakes are an excellent option for summer sailing, especially if you have a trailerable sailboat. Inland lakes exist in almost every hurricane-prone state, and they offer protection from devastating hurricane storm surges.

Marinas are available on most larger lakes, and fees are similar to coastal yacht clubs and docking facilities. Many of these marinas are also covered, which offers additional protection from rain, hail, and other storm-related hazards.

Rivers like the Mississippi are wide and deep enough for sailboats to traverse. Rivers, while not as protected as lakes, offer some protection from the open-water hazards of hurricane season.

Rivers are a great way to relocate when storm season comes, as you can simply sail upstream and dock far away from meteorological hazards. River sailing is challenging and still prone to storm surges, but the dangers are much lower than in the immediate path of the storm.

Intracoastal Waterways

The United States Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) is one of the most useful coastal features in hurricane-prone states. It offers a unique level of protection from bluewater hazards along with ports, haulouts, and other amenities for sailors.

The Intracoastal Waterway system is a combination of coastal inlets, sounds, channels, and artificial canals that run from Boston, Massachusetts, all the way to Brownsville, Texas. The massive waterway consists of more than 3,000 miles of almost entirely protected navigable water.

Intracoastal Waterways are a fantastic way to tour the United States during hurricane season. In addition to an increased level of protection from the open sea, the ICW system runs along more than a dozen major tourist cities and cultural centers. Safe harbors and overnight stops are abundant, and provisions are never in short supply.

Gulf Intracoastal Waterway

The Intracoastal Waterway system begins in Brownsville, Texas, and runs down the western coast of Carrabelle, Florida. Along the way, the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway connects to major coastal cities such as Corpus Christie, Galveston, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Mobile, Panama City, and Pensacola.

Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway connects the Gulf ICW to the eastern United States via the southern coast of Florida. Fort Lauderdale, FL, is one of the primary southern points of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway.

The Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway runs all the way to Boston, but not all of the waterway is close to the open sea. During hurricane season, an additional level of safety can be found north of the Manasquan Inlet in New Jersey. The inlet connects the northern parts of the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway with the inland Manasquan river.

Major port cities along the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway include Key West, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, West Palm Beach, Brunswick, Savannah, Charleston, Georgetown, Cape Fear, Wilmington, Norfolk, New York City, Albany, Cape Cod, and Boston.

Intracoastal Waterway during Hurricane Season

Few sailors would recommend sailing in the Intracoastal Waterway during an active hurricane. That said, if you must travel, it's safer to stay inland and away from the driving seat.

However, sailing and mooring in the Intracoastal Waterway during hurricane season is probably much safer than cruising in open water or anchoring in an exposed cove.

The Intracoastal Waterway offers protection from the other unpredictable weather hazards that are common during hurricane season. These include explosive thunderstorms that occur in the afternoon and the occasional low-visibility rainstorm.

Safety Benefits of the Intracoastal Waterway System

For sailors in hurricane-prone states, the Intracoastal Waterway can lay a lot of fears to rest when traveling between destinations. The Intracoastal Waterway is a heavily-traveled shipping lane, which means towing and emergency services are never far away.

Additionally, there are hundreds of marinas, restaurants, boatyards, and fueling docks dotted around the shores of the Intracoastal Waterway. In the event of storm damage, it's much easier to get repairs and find land-based shelter in the Intracoastal Waterway.

Navigation is also easier, as the channels are clearly marked, and landmarks are everywhere. The Intracoastal Waterway makes sailing between coastal states simple and direct.

Sailing out of State

If you decide to avoid hurricane-prone areas during the summer season, there are plenty of places to sail to far out of range of tropical storms. Sailing or towing your boat away from the Atlantic and Gulf states is a popular option for hurricane season, especially if there's a storm on the way.

The Great Lakes

The Great Lakes are an excellent destination for sailors during the summer. Though famous for their rough weather, the Great Lakes are calmer during the warm months. Lake Superior, Lake Huron, Lake Michigan, Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario are the largest lakes of their kind in the world.

St. Lawrence Seaway and Ocean Access

The St. Lawrence Seaway allows commercial vessels and private boats to access the Great Lakes from the Atlantic Ocean. Combined, the seaway and the lakes are one of the largest surface navigable waterways on the planet and features some of the largest marine locks as well.

Fresh Water, Fair Weather, and Easy Maintenance

The Great Lakes offer another hidden benefit that's great for your sailboat: freshwater. The Great Lakes are freshwater lakes, which means you'll have an entire season to avoid the corrosive qualities of saltwater and the worst kinds of marine gunk.

When to Leave the Great Lakes

The Great Lakes offer safe and interesting refuge during hurricane season, but they're not fair and friendly year-round. During the fall, conditions on the Great Lakes get stormy and hazardous.

Additionally, winter temperatures in the region frequently freeze the lakes, making them totally impassable to small boats. It's best to vacate the Great Lakes area and return home before October, which is right at the end of the Atlantic hurricane season.

Tourist Locations

Great cities like Chicago, Milwaukee, Cleveland, Buffalo, and Duluth border the lakes, and they're easily accessible from the water. If you're looking to get out of the Atlantic coast during hurricane season, consider taking a trip through the St. Lawrence Seaway and into the Great Lakes.

International Voyages

Looking to do some international travel by boat? The Great Lakes border the United States and Canada, making it easy to visit our northern neighbors and stay far from the weather during hurricane season.

Pacific Coast

The Pacific Coast is another popular option for sailors during hurricane season. There are two primary ways to get from an Atlantic state to the pacific coast: You can transit via the Panama Canal or haul your boat out and tow it to the other side of the country.

Atlantic to Pacific Sailing via the Panama Canal

Larger boats are generally too expensive to ship or haul, making the Panama Canal the most convenient option. Contrary to popular belief, it's relatively easy to transit via the Panama Canal. Private sailboats tie side-by-side and get towed through the locks.

Pacific Coast Destinations

The Pacific Coast is hurricane-free, and typhoons (Pacific hurricanes) rarely make it to the US West Coast. Unlike the Atlantic and Gulf coast, there aren't a lot of harbors on the jagged and inhospitable western coastline.

However, there are numerous destinations on the West Coast that are worth your while. San Diego and its islands are a popular spot for sailboats, along with Los Angeles and San Francisco Bay.

Further north, Portland and Seattle are accessible from the Pacific. Vancouver, Canada, is another popular sailing destination for those escaping hurricane season out west.

Sailing around Cape Horn

Sailing around Cape Horn is another way to escape to the Pacific Ocean during hurricane season. Cape horn rounds the southernmost tip of Chile and connects the two great oceans via a treacherous antarctic passage.

Cape Horn is known for rough weather that intensifies during the summer, so escaping hurricane season this way may cause more problems than it solves.

Is it Safe to Sail during Hurricane Season?

Each year, thousands of people set sail from Atlantic states during the summer. And each year, thousands of sailors return without ever encountering a problem.

Unlike many other kinds of natural disasters, hurricanes often give several days of warning before making landfall near major sailing hubs. As a result, sailors who properly prepare and monitor weather data can almost always avoid getting caught in dangerous situations.

However, the farther out from shore you sail, the greater likelihood you have of encountering an issue. Your ability to receive and react to new information is compromised if you're too far from shore to take shelter.

How to Be Safe During Hurricane Season

The best thing you can do to stay safe during hurricane season is to be informed. Modern weather prediction methods are remarkably effective at detecting and tracking hurricanes, and advanced warning can help you steer clear of a storm's path.

Monitor weather patterns and stay vigilant for weather alerts, and always check for potential meteorological hazards before setting sail. The NOAA and the National Weather Service are a great place to start, along with Weather Band (WB) radio.

Thunderstorms are also a hazard during the summer months, so use resources like the Storm Prediction Center's convective and thunderstorm outlooks to see if you're likely to encounter foul summer weather during your trip.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Moorings That Can Stay Put in a Hurricane

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As far as moorings are concerned, the times they are a changing. Ten years ago, Hurricane Bob swept up the New England coast destroying hundreds of boats, most of which had been on moorings. Some of the damaged boats came to grief because lines chafed, but many more were wrecked because the mooring anchors—half-buried mushrooms and inadequate dead weight anchors—proved to be woefully inadequate in the face of Bob's wind, waves, and tidal surge. Then, as a sort of meteorological one-two punch, the Halloween Northeaster pounded the New England coast, popping out even more moorings.

The past decade has seen many technological advances in boating, not the least of which is a greatly improved anchor for moorings—the helix. Depending on the harbor bottom, traditional mooring anchors, both mushroom and dead weight, had tended to sit on top of or just below the surface. Theoretically, the holding power of a mushroom anchor can be increased up to tenfold once it becomes buried sufficiently in mud. In most harbors, though, a mushroom anchor might be buried a foot or two in a mud bottom and is usually canted to the prevailing winds. If a storm comes out of a different quadrant, the mushroom is easily popped out. Mushrooms also don't do well in silt bottoms or in denser bottoms, like sand or clay. In the latter, the mushroom tends to sit on or near the surface and must rely solely on its weight to anchor the boat.

A dead weight anchor may gain some advantage from suction in a mud bottom, otherwise it's holding power is completely dependent on its weight, or more exactly on it's submerged weight, which in the case of a concrete anchor is almost half its dry weight.

Another factor is scope, which has as much to do with holding power of a mooring as the anchor itself. Studies have found that when the angle of pull increases to 25°, a mooring's holding power begins to weaken precipitously. So in shallow harbors, where a scope of 3:1 can be had with, say, 20' - 30' of chain, the advantage of scope is all but eliminated in a storm by a combination of tidal surge and the high, pumping motion of waves.

Advantages of the Helix

Comparing the holding power of a helix anchor to a traditional mushroom or dead weight anchor is like comparing a wood screw to a thumbtack or paperweight. A study by the BoatUS Foundation, Cruising World magazine, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) found that a 500 lb. buried mushroom could be pulled out with 1,200 pounds of pull (supplied by a 900 h.p. tug); an 8,000 pound dead weight (concrete) anchor could be pulled out with 4,000 pounds of pull. The helix, however, could not be pulled out by the tug and the strain gauge recorded 12,000 pounds of pull—its maximum—before a shackle was burst apart by the strain. Scope in each case was slightly less than 3:1. (In an earlier test, a strain gauge had registered 20,800 pounds before the hawser snapped.)

Installation of the Helix: The Key to Success

Installation of a helix, unlike a traditional mooring, requires expertise and special hydraulic equipment. The anchors are made by A. B. Chance Co. of hot-dipped galvanized steel with 1 3/4"shafts and either 8", 10", 12", or 14" diameter helices. Extenders can be used to drive the mooring further into the seabed for additional holding power. Royce Randlett, Jr., president of Helix Mooring Systems Inc., says the company has installed over 3,000 helix anchors plus a similar number of a smaller (5' 6" with a round shaft) "lighter load helix anchor with a single helice. The latter is installed by a diver and is only suitable for smaller boats.

The helix isn't infallible; there have been several cases where helix anchors have pulled out. In one case, the helix was being used to secure a 72' sailboat in Marion, Massachusetts during an especially fierce northeaster. While a helix requires less scope than a conventional mooring, this helix had almost no scope because of the storm's surge, according to George Jennings, who was then the harbormaster in Marion, and was pumped out of the bottom by the boat's fore-and-aft rocking motion.

In another case, a helix let go because it was installed by someone who was inexperienced and drove it only part of the way into a rocky bottom. One of the problems has been that the number of people who are qualified to install helix anchors; there are only 20 installers, mostly in the Northeast, with a handful in other states—Maryland, Florida, and Washington. Ham Gale, who installs helix anchors in the Annapolis , Maryland area, uses a specially-designed platform—a raft—for the hydraulic installation equipment that can be towed to the spot where the mooring will be installed. Two long metal pipes—called spades—at the ends of the platform are then lowered into the harbor bottom to anchor the platform and prevent it from twisting while the helix is being screwed into the bottom. The holding power of a helix is ultimately based on the density of the bottom and it's depth into the bottom. Using a pressure gauge, an installer can estimate a helixes holding power by translating pounds per square inch to torque. If a helix goes into the bottom too easily, Gale says the installer can add an extender to take it down further to firmer soil. Most installations take about an hour. The cost for a large helix is about $2,000 and about $1,500 for a medium helix. In his case, Gale has installed over 300 helix moorings, including 48 at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis. Gale says he's never had one pull out.

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What sailboats could survive a full blown hurricane at sea?

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What sailboats are the most seaworthy? Boats that can withstand 30+ foot ocean waves?  

Does "full blown" mean Category1? Or Category5? Read "Fastnet, Force 10" to get some idea how boats do at sea.  

The Westsail 32 in the book/movie The Perfect Storm survived. But, survival also depends on how well the boat was maintained. That same Westsail in poor condition may have had a different ending.  

A 30 foot wave at sea and and a thirty foot wave on your local beach are not the same thing. A thirty foot wave at sea only occasionally breaks and when it does, only a portion of it becomes white water. Don't get me wrong, the energy in that portion is still formidable and can do damage but it isn't like the breaking wave that hits land. Mostly you sail over thirty foot waves at sea without incident. Another thing to consider is surfing. In my opinion allowing you boat to surf swells of 30 feet is playing Russian Roulette - eventually one will kill you. I won't elaborate here. We sailed through a storm with 80kn and 30+ feet. We got knocked down twice by breaking waves as described above but we safely "sailed" over hundreds more. We sustained more damage from the wind than from the sea. We have a 44ft GRP sloop. Was that a "full blown hurricane"? No because it only lasted two days. But in terms of wind speed and wave size, yes it probably equaled a Cat 1. Would you survive a Cat 5? I don't think so.  

I presume you are looking for a neat list. Do you want that in alphabetical order or by LOA? Color?  

Big ships often fair worse than a small sailboat in extreme conditions. Whereas a large ship may span a few waves and beak her back, a strong, small sailboat would be much like a cork, if watertight. I have survived 2 hurricanes at sea in sailboats. The first was just west of Fiji, probably a high cat 1, but it was before satellites so it may not be a "full blown" storm in your mind. We were capsized 3 times and sustained a lot of damage, but she got us back to a safe anchorage, so I guess she was a pretty good boat, considering she was 65 when she went through it. The second storm was in the western Indian ocean and because we were beating, we escaped the full force of the storm, but it was still 45 to 60 knots for 10 very difficult days as the darn thing chased us across the ocean. That boat was Brown 37' trimaran, which handled quite a few "heavy weather" experiences very well, including 1200 miles up the Red Sea in northerlies. Once again, it would very much depend on the choices made by and the experience of the captain (certainly NOT the case in the hurricane (cyclone if you prefer) off Fiji, as I made some very bad choices, but as they say, "hindsight is 20/20"); good choices increase the survivability in any situation, especially at sea, in heavy weather.  

In general, and your sea miles may vary: NO sailboat is guaranteed to survive a hurricane. There are no guarantees at sea, except that the sea has a good chance of finding its way through weaknesses in either boat or crew. Any small boat skipper who intentionally challenges a hurricane would seem likely to be either a fool, harboring a death wish, under terrible pressure, seriously unlucky, or extraordinarily delusionally over-confident. Theoretically, a boat could be designed for having a maximum probability of surviving hurricanes, but it might have to be so over-built that it would be a pig in normal conditions. (glossing over some discussion of Westsails and such like) There are boats built to sail in heavy conditions, and one could do a lot with flotation, water tight compartments, over-built rigs, high-strength impact-resistant hulls, more-or-less bulletproof steering systems, control lines led to sheltered locations, etc. If one were wealthy. But, a thirty-foot breaking wave can simply overpower most smaller craft, depending on how it catches a boat and how well the crew is able to anticipate and respond. With good voyage planning and weather routing and an efficient boat, a smart and not-too-unlucky crew can avoid most of the really heavy weather. What's sometimes harder to avoid and to manage is the really light stuff.  

What sailboat could survive a full-blown hurricane at sea? A fortunate one.  

Read God Forsaken Sea by Derek Lundy. Be prepared for some terrible gut wrenching descriptions.  

Me too. I cant remember ever hearing about a battleship or an aircraft carrier going down due to rough weather. And, the food is good.  

maybe not breaking it's back.. but my father rememebers seeing the intrepid with her flightdeck even with the water... and he was on an LST. The carrier sailors joked that people on his ship should have gotten Submarine pay as they spent most of the time under the waves. From what he tells of the story, they were taking 50 degree rolls.. LSTs are only supposed to take 40 before the capsize. I know of the Westsail that survived the perfect storm.. and a few Alberg 37s that survived some serious weather. Two that went through the Fast Net Gale with minimal damage and one that wound up beached with only scratches from a hurricane  

The USN would disagree with the idea that warships are safe in a typhoon. In 1944 a number of ships were capsized and lost in Typhoon Cobra. Typhoon Cobra (1944) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia There are too many variables to say which boats would survive a hurricane. In a class 5 hurricane in the dangerous quadrant, essentially NO sailboat would be likely to survive. Currents, types of wave action, proficiency of the captain and crew, equipment on board, strategies for dealing with big seas, and whether you've pissed off Neptune...all variables making huge differences in ability to handle bad weather. It's not just the boat. An Alberg 35 survived the Fastnet storm by just taking sails down and going below with bare poles.  

smurphny said: The USN would disagree with the idea that warships are safe in a typhoon. In 1944 a number of ships were capsized and lost in Typhoon Cobra. Typhoon Cobra (1944) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia ... Click to expand...

Read "Rescue in the Pacific". Great book, not a hurricane, but a nasty storm none-the-less. All but one of the 'boats' survived it. It was the people that didn't.  

OK, fine. Then I won't go to sea in a warship. That settles it.  

I think it was one of Michner's books, maybe Tales of the South Pacific , that has a great fictional/historical account of this storm and what it must have been like to come upon the tragic sight of the wrong side of a destroyer from the deck of a sister ship.  

Might have been. Will have to search around and find where that section came from. It was a really haunting description, in the middle of a raging storm, of one warship looking out ahead and coming upon one that had capsized. Really presented a vivid and disturbing scene that has stuck with me.  

Make all the boat lists you want , but the thing that most makes a boat seaworthy is the person sailing her. There's no magic pill to get you through 30 foot seas. The best regarded blue water vessel ill managed at sea isn't worth spit . Conversely , a lessor boat skillfully handled might make a miracle .  

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Can A Sailboat Outrun a Hurricane?

With modern technology on our side, early warnings and reliable communication mean that you should never have to outrun a hurricane in a sailboat. If you’re unfortunate enough to be caught off guard or silly enough to tempt fate, there are some things you can do to improve your chances of survival, but the safest bet is always to give a storm a wide berth.

Can a sailboat outrun a hurricane ? It’s important to be clear about what we mean when we say “outrun.” Given enough of a head-start, you can get clear without ever seeing a cloudy sky. But as the distance between your craft and the storm narrows, the stakes get higher, and the decisions you make could be the difference between life and death.

The best advice is always to avoid the storm by the widest distance possible. When circumstances make that impossible, it’s important to make wise decisions. Read on to learn what advice we have to offer as the situation worsens.

The Best Way to “Outrun” a Hurricane in a Sailboat

If you monitor weather reports before and during any ocean voyage in your sailboat, you should be able to avoid hurricanes entirely. At the end of the day, even if your boat is docked directly in line with the path of an oncoming hurricane, it’s best to err on the side of caution. Boats can be replaced—that’s what insurance is for.

If you have enough advanced warning of a hurricane’s approach and a strong indication that where your boat is located will put it at risk, you might consider moving it to a port that is outside the storm’s impact zone . When you do so, you’ll be counting on everything going right so that you get to where you’re headed on the schedule you’ve set.

“Hurricane Hole” is a term used to describe a port with conditions that will protect your boat as much as possible even if the storm passes directly over. Coves surrounded by high-wall cliffs are one good example of a textbook hurricane hole. If you make it to port well in advance of the storm and moor with the proper procedures, you will have done all that you can do.

“Hauling Out” is another good option for protecting your boat during a hurricane. If you can make it to a marina in advance of the storm with enough time to spare, there will likely be room on land for you to have them take the boat out of the water. If you go this route, make sure to seal your boat against rain and flooding. When possible, have the boat tied down securely.

When Avoiding the Storm Isn’t an Option?

On Boating Magazine ’s list of the five dumbest things that you can do in a hurricane—Sail boating is #1. But sometimes, despite our best-laid plans, we might find ourselves in a tight spot. Knowing what to do and taking the correct action quickly will be essential to making sure that a bad situation doesn’t get any worse.

Now, you might be thinking to yourself – what are these guys so worried about? After all, a sailboat runs on wind power, and hurricanes have strong winds. So, a hurricane should make a sailboat go faster—fast enough to outrun the hurricane, right?

There are a number of factors that will negatively impact your ability to maintain your craft’s top speed as the distances between you and a hurricane decrease. Some of the most important ones to consider are:

Pulling in Your Sails

Preparing the craft for rough seas, fighting rough seas.

As winds get stronger and seas get rougher, it will become necessary to pull in your sails. Failure to do so will risk losing your sails to the wind. It will also make it more difficult, if not impossible, to control your craft in rough seas.

Not only will pulling in your sails take time and attention away from your effort to maintain top speed and outrun the hurricane, unless you have an exceptionally strong inboard engine on your craft, it will also reduce your top speed significantly.

In addition to pulling in the sails, there are a number of other steps that you’ll need to take to prepare your ship for taking the brunt of a strong storm. Each of these steps will require time and attention that will take away from your efforts to outrun the storm.

You will need to seal the boat against rough seas and ready your engine’s fuel filtration system for the rocky ride. You will need to tie down anything and everything that could cause you and your crew injury if it is tossed about by the rough seas. Are you starting to understand why it’s so important to just stay clear of the storm in the first place?

It might sound counter-intuitive, but when you’re trying to navigate rough seas, you actually want to slow down to avoid unnecessary damage to your craft and your crew. At a certain point, it won’t be up to you anymore. As wave sizes increase, your ability to make distances at speed will fall completely outside your control. You’ll be left doing what you can to remain afloat.

If the Worst Should Happen

Maybe circumstances beyond your control have made dealing with a hurricane unavoidable. If mechanical problems have left you exposed or broken communication equipment has caused you to be caught unawares, there are some things you can do to increase the odds of surviving the ordeal:

You probably think of this technique as a way to avail yourself of the most favorable winds, but when you’re in rough seas under motor, it can be a great way to reduce the impact on crew and craft alike. Head into the prevailing seas at 15 degrees or so and maintain for 10-15 miles. Then switch your tack to 15 degrees to the opposite direction of dead ahead.

Avoid dangerous rolling and increase the safety of your craft and comfort of your crew as much as possible as you try to navigate your way out of trouble.

Set Course for the “Safest” Quadrant of the Storm

While there is no such thing as a safe part of a hurricane, the conditions are generally the most severe in the northeast quadrant of the storm (for Atlantic Hurricanes). If you are forced to ride out the storm in open seas and have the ability to position your craft in relation to the storm’s quadrants, the southwest is your best bet.

Sea Room and Steering-Way

You’ve probably heard of large ships riding out storms at sea. That’s because being tossed upon the shore or against a dock can be a significant threat to your craft in hurricane-force winds and seas.

That doesn’t mean that it’s a good idea to head out into a storm if your boat is docked. But it is something you should consider if you try and fail to outrun a hurricane. Once the storm is upon you, getting closer to shore can actually introduce additional threats.

Fair Winds and Following Seas

We hope that we’ve convinced you to stay as far away from hurricanes as possible—ideally, this will apply to you and your craft. When things don’t work out that way, it’s a good idea to remember that your sailboat can be repaired or replaced. Risking the lives of your crew to “cut it close” is never a risk worth taking.

Still, as we noted above, sometimes things go wrong, and a worst-case scenario can’t be avoided. If you should find yourself in such a situation, all you can do is make the best of it and hope that everything works out. By following the tips that we’ve provided, when and if you can, you’ll increase the likelihood of a good outcome.

I am the owner of sailoradvice. I live in Birmingham, UK and love to sail with my wife and three boys throughout the year.

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How to travel to the Caribbean during hurricane season

May 16, 2024 • 3 min read

Here's how to be prepared when visiting the Caribbean during hurricane season © Noel Hendrickson / Getty Images

Winter, spring, summer or fall – it’s never a bad time to visit the Caribbean . 

While summer ushers in the Caribbean’s hurricane season, the increase in rainfall usually yields deals on everything from flights to hotel rooms. Wet weather doesn’t dampen the spirit of the region or its resilient people. And many islands, such as  St Lucia ,  St Vincent  and  Antigua , indulge in the revelry and splendor of carnival (vaval) between June and August.

If you're considering travel to the Caribbean during the summer and fall, we've got answers to your most pressing questions about how to navigate potential storms.

Ready to plan your trip? Here are the best places to visit in the Caribbean

When is hurricane season?

Hurricane season lasts from June through November; the most active months are August through October.

How can I protect my trip?

Should your trip be interrupted by inclement weather, travel insurance can help cushion the blow and get you back in the Caribbean again at a later date. A range of companies cover trip interruptions and cancellations – just make sure that there’s a "cancel for any reason" clause that includes weather. Also check your credit cards to find out if you're already covered.

What's the best method for monitoring potential storms?

Thanks to sophisticated tracking systems and the slow-build nature of hurricanes, you know pretty well in advance if a storm is heading your way. Pay attention to forecasts in the time leading up to your vacation and avoid completely unplugging while you’re on the road – you’ll have to act quickly should an emergency arise. And if local authorities say to evacuate an area, listen.

Visiting the Caribbean at other times of the year? Here's our seasonal guide

What happens if there's a hurricane while I'm there?

Familiarize yourself with the destination's evacuation plans and resources before you go. Once you arrive, check with local authorities or experts to find out how their alerting system works. There might be an emergency text service or other warning system to keep you updated. You'll want to know where to go before things turn too dangerous to move. If you’re in the storm’s path and evacuation is not an option, take refuge by putting as much space between you and the outdoors as you can – shelter in interior rooms, and avoid glass and windows.

What else do I need to know?

Even if an island sits outside the hurricane belt, it’s still possible to feel some effects from passing storms, such as wind, heavy rain and rough seas. Pay attention to the forecast if you know a system is close by, and ask locals about the drivability of routes during and after rain before you set out.

What websites should I bookmark?

US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration  tracks hurricane activity in the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Caribbean Hurricane Network Blog  is powered by NASA-powered radar. They also have hurricane correspondents across the islands.

Adapted from Lonely Planet's latest Caribbean Islands guidebook. Buy it here .

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Editorials | Editorial: An active hurricane season looms….

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Editorials | Editorial: An active hurricane season looms. Get ready.

This year, however, it’s not something to blow off. All signs point to this being an extremely active season for tropical systems and readiness now, long before a storm is bearing down on the coast, is imperative for everyone.

Though the Atlantic hurricane season formally begins on June 1, Hurricane Preparedness Week (which ends today) intends to encourage folks to ready their families, homes and businesses for tropical weather well in advance of the year’s first storm.

We’ve had some big storms, but also rain events reminding us that it doesn’t take a Category 4 or 5 to do serious damage. Last year’s busy season produced 15 named storms, seven hurricanes and four major hurricanes (Category 3 and stronger). Those are eerily similar to the forecasts this year, with many of the models calling for a near-record number of storms: 20 named storms, 11-12 hurricanes and five major hurricanes.

That’s due to a change in wind patterns that will aid in storm formation, as in 2016, but also because of uncommonly warm ocean temperatures. The Atlantic Ocean is already about 2 degrees Celsius warmer than normal, which will serve as fuel for tropical systems headed toward the East and Gulf coasts.

For those reasons, even those who typically shrug off warnings about hurricane season should pay heed: This could be a very dangerous season for Florida, and we need to get ready.

Begin by visiting online emergency planning resources. And if you need supplies, remember the state’s first two-week sales tax holiday starts June 1.

The rest of the drill is well-known by now. Be ready to flee if told to do so. Know what you are going to take and where you plan to go.

And of course, get insurance squared away. It may seem too chaotic and costly to think about, but Floridian property owners don’t really have a choice.

Hurricane preparation is not only for you and the safety of your family. It also helps the larger community since first responders will be busy in the aftermath of a storm and being self-sufficient eases their burden. Get ready for the worst, even while you hope for the best.

This editorial is adapted from one that originally appeared in the Virginian-Pilot and Daily Press Editorial Board. The Sentinel sometimes republishes editorials that agree with our own positions. Virginia references have been replaced with Florida ones. Send letters to [email protected].

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NOAA to announce 2024 Atlantic hurricane season outlook

NOAA's GOES-16 satellite captured Hurricane Idalia approaching the western coast of Florida while Hurricane Franklin churned in the Atlantic Ocean at 5:01 p.m. EDT on August 29, 2023. (Image credit: NOAA Satellites)

NOAA will issue its outlook for the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season during a news conference on Thursday, May 23 at the National Press Club in Washington, DC and virtually. 

Leaders from NOAA and the National Weather Service will announce the expected storm activity for the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season, climate factors that will influence hurricane development and NOAA's readiness with new products related to hurricane hazards and upgrades to enhance forecasts and communications. NOAA and FEMA also will provide guidance on how the public can prepare for hurricane season, which officially begins on June 1.

News conference announcing NOAA’s 2024 Atlantic Hurricane Season Outlook

Thursday, May 23; 10:00 a.m. EDT 

The National Press Club offsite link 529 14th St NW, Washington, DC 20045

• Rick Spinrad, Ph.D., NOAA administrator
• Deanne Criswell, FEMA administrator
• Ken Graham, Director, National Weather Service

Matthew Rosencrans, lead hurricane season forecaster with NOAA’s Climate Prediction Center, also will be available for questions and interviews.

REGISTRATION Media interested in attending the in-person news conference must register by providing the names of the reporter/producer and camera crew to Erica Grow Cei, erica.grow.cei@noaa.gov , by 4:00 p.m. EDT on May 22. Space is limited. For questions, please call 202-853-6088.

VIRTUAL OPTION Credentialed reporters who are unable to attend in person may watch a live stream of the news conference and must register with the National Press Club at this link:   https://www.workcast.com/register?cpak=3474549672718141 offsite link . Reporters attending virtually will have the ability to submit written questions during the Q&A portion of the event.

Additional resources

Hurricane safety and preparedness is critically important before the season begins on June 1. NOAA’s National Weather Service provides resources to prepare for hurricane hazards and real-time updates about active tropical weather systems from the National Hurricane Center at www.hurricanes.gov .

Climate, weather, and water affect all life on our ocean planet.  NOAA’s mission  is to understand and predict our changing environment, from the deep sea to outer space, and to manage and conserve America’s coastal and marine resources. 

Media contact

Erica Grow Cei,  erica.grow@noaa.gov , (202) 892-5843

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It's not a matter of if a hurricane will hit Florida, but when, forecasters say

May 11, 2024 / 11:55 AM EDT / AP

With the start of hurricane season less than a month away, U.S. officials who predict, prepare for and respond to natural disasters had a message for Floridians on Friday: It's not a matter of if a hurricane will hit, but when.

The 2024 hurricane season is expected to be busier than average . To ensure that people everywhere are prepared , officials visited residents in Sanford, a landlocked city in the middle of the Sunshine State.

Even if they don't live on the coast, the officials told residents, they need to know the potential danger hurricanes pose to their property, such as flooding; and put together an emergency plan that includes a supply kit.

"Everybody in Florida is at risk," said Michael Brennan, director of the National Hurricane Center.

As if to punctuate Florida's vulnerability to damaging weather, wind gusts of 71 mph, just shy of hurricane force, were recorded early Friday in Tallahassee, where mangled metal and other debris from damaged buildings littered parts of the state's capital city.

The officials in Sanford brought along two "hurricane hunter" planes used in the daredevil business of flying into the middle of storms to gather data about their intensity and direction.

The WP-3D, operated by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the WC-130J, flown by the U.S. Air Force Reserve, fly straight into the storms' eyewall, usually three times during a flight. The aim of the hair-raising trips is to gather information that can help officials on the ground make decisions such as when to order people to evacuate.

NOAA's propeller plane typically has 11 to 17 people on board during flights through hurricanes, including the crew and scientists. Since flights usually last eight hours, the crew members bring plenty of snack food, and there is a microwave, refrigerator and a hot plate for cooking more elaborate meals.

Although the rides can be very bumpy, sometimes they aren't as turbulent as expected and crew members don't realize that they already are in the eye of a hurricane, said William Wysinger, a NOAA flight engineer who has flown on a dozen missions through hurricanes.

"I liken it to riding an old wooden roller coaster during the worst of times," Wysinger said.

The National Hurricane Center is predicting that the upcoming Atlantic and Gulf season, which runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, will exceed the yearly average  of seven tropical storms and seven hurricanes, and that three of the storms will be major. Not all hurricanes make landfall.

Floridians would be wise to remember 20 years ago when four hurricanes made landfall consecutively in just a matter of weeks, crisscrossing the state and carving paths of disaster, said David Sharp, meteorologist-in-charge at the National Weather Service in Melbourne, Florida.

"Many remember the ravages of the Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne — blue tarps and pink insulation everywhere, along with displaced lives," Sharp said. "Scars upon the land but also scars upon the psyche of our people."

Hundreds of thousands of new residents have arrived in Florida since the last hurricane season, and it's important that they know what to expect and how to prepare, said Robbie Berg, warning coordination meteorologist at the National Hurricane Center.

"Talk to your neighbors," Berg said. "A lot of people in Florida have experienced these storms and they can help you through a storm if you've never been through one before."

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Hot weather poses new risk as thousands remain without power after deadly Houston storm

HOUSTON (AP) — As the Houston area works to clean up and restore power to hundreds of thousands after deadly storms left at least seven people dead, it will do so amid a smog warning and scorching temperatures that could pose health risks.

National Weather Service meteorologist Marc Chenard said on Saturday that highs of around 90 degrees (32.2 C) were expected through the start of the coming week, with heat indexes likely approaching 100 degrees (38 C) by midweek.

“We expect the impact of the heat to gradually increase ... we will start to see that heat risk increase Tuesday into Wednesday through Friday,” Chenard said.

The heat index is what the temperature feels like to the human body when humidity is combined with the air temperature, according to the weather service.

“Don’t overdo yourself during the cleanup process,” the weather service’s Houston office said in a post on the social platform X.

In addition to the heat, the Houston area could face poor air quality during the weekend.

Heavy rainfall was possible in eastern Louisiana and central Alabama on Saturday, and parts of Louisiana were also at risk for flooding.

The Houston Health Department said it would distribute 400 free portable air conditioners to area seniors, people with disabilities and caregivers of disabled children to contend with the heat.

Five cooling centers also were opened — four in Houston and one in Kingwood.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS REMAIN WITHOUT POWER

The widespread destruction of Thursday’s storms brought much of Houston to a standstill. Thunderstorms and hurricane-force winds tore through the city — decimating the facade of one brick building and leaving trees, debris and shattered glass on the streets. A tornado also touched down near the northwest Houston suburb of Cypress.

More than a half-million homes and businesses in Texas remained without electricity by midday Saturday, according to PowerOutage.us. Another 21,000 customers were also without power in Louisiana, where strong winds and a suspected tornado hit.

“It’s been a madhouse out here,” Cypress resident Hallie O’Bannon said. “You know we don’t have any power. No hot water. It’s been really crazy.”

“Everyone is pretty resilient, and everyone’s just trying to get back to normal and help each other out and the best way we can,” O’Bannon added.

CenterPoint Energy, which has deployed 1,000 employees to the area and is requesting 5,000 more, said power restoration could take several days or longer in some areas, and that customers need to ensure their homes can safely be reconnected.

“In addition to damaging CenterPoint Energy’s electric infrastructure and equipment, severe weather may have caused damage to customer-owned equipment” such as the weatherhead, which is where power enters the home, the company said.

Customers must have repairs completed by a qualified electrician before service can be restored, CenterPoint added.

High-voltage transmission towers that were torn apart and downed power lines pose a twofold challenge for utility companies because the damage affected transmission and distribution systems, according to Alexandria von Meier, a power and energy expert who called that a rare thing. Damage to just the distribution system is more typical, von Meier said.

How quickly repairs are made will depend on a variety of factors, including the time it takes to assess the damage, equipment replacement, roadwork access issues and workforce availability.

STORM CAUGHT MANY OFF GUARD

Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez reported late Friday that three people died during the storm, including an 85-year-old woman whose home caught fire after being struck by lightning and a 60-year-old man who had tried to use his vehicle to power his oxygen tank.

Houston Mayor John Whitmire previously said at least four other people were killed in the city when the storms swept through Harris County, which includes Houston.

School districts in the Houston area canceled classes Friday for more than 400,000 students and government offices were closed.

Houston Independent School District Superintendent Mike Miles said Saturday that he hoped to reopen schools on Monday, but that is dependent upon the restoration of electricity in school buildings.

“If a school doesn’t have power, it will remain closed,” Miles told reporters during a tour of the heavily damaged Sinclair Elementary School.

Whitmire warned that police were out in force, including state troopers sent to the area to prevent looting. He said the speed and intensity of the storm caught many off guard.

Noelle Delgado, executive director of Houston Pets Alive, said she pulled up at the animal rescue on Thursday night and found the dogs and cats — more than 30 in all — uninjured, but the building’s awning had been ripped off, the sign was mangled and water was leaking inside.

She hoped to find foster homes for the animals.

“I could definitely tell that this storm was a little different,” she said. “It felt terrifying.”

STATE AND FEDERAL RECOVERY ASSISTANCE ON THE WAY

In light of the storm damage, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo and Whitmire both signed disaster declarations, paving the way for state and federal storm recovery assistance.

A separate disaster declaration from President Joe Biden makes federal funding available to people in seven Texas counties — including Harris — that have been affected by severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding since April 26.

Miller reported from Oklahoma City; Associated Press reporters Jamie Stengle in Dallas, Valerie Gonzalez in McAllen, Texas, and Lisa Baumann in Bellingham, Washington, contributed.

Copyright 2024 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

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Rangers and hurricanes second round series review after 4-2 nyr win.

• May 16, 2024

The New York Rangers thought they were in the clear, but the Carolina Hurricanes did make a concerted push to impede their progress. The Rangers got out to a unexpected 3-0 series stranglehold against the Hurricanes, and as we shall see in our recap, thought it was smooth sailing ahead. However, Rob Brind’Amour’s squad, perhaps the Stanley Cup favourites at the outset of the 2024 NHL Stanley Cup playoffs, did flex their might. But perhaps it was too little, too late, as they stormed back on the Hurricanes in game six in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The Rangers and Hurricanes Second Round Series Recap

In the Rangers and Hurricanes series decider, we can recap at it as the rest of the series. For the Hurricanes, they thought it would be easy, and boy, were they wrong. The New York Rangers have too many quick strike attackers saturated throughout their lineup. This weighs down the opponents when they get further dejected from being robbed by Igor Shesterkin . As for game six itself, the Hurricanes had comfortably built themselves up a 3-1 lead. Sebastian Aho was going, with a goal and an assist. Furthermore, they were playing it up to the rowdy Raleigh fans. However, then one of the Rangers top-quick strike attackers pounced.

Rangers Chris Kreider Recaps the Game Six of the Series of the Hurricanes with his Goals

Chris Kreider , in an all-time great New York Ranger franchise playoff performance, won the series single-handedly for the Blueshirts. He scored a natural hat trick less than nine minutes apart. He now has seven tucks in this year’s post-season. It may not be quite up there with Mark Messier guarantee, but maybe it should be. The only thing really taking away from it was it occurred in game six, not game seven. Who knows what would’ve been if the Hurricanes held the lead, and took it back to Madison Square Garden for game seven. In a single game showdown, anything can happen.

Alexis Lafreniere Had Huge Series versus the Canes

One player for the Rangers who had a big series was their star prospect from 2020, Alexis Lafreniere . Lafreniere is really starting to find his game. It can be tough as a top prospect, and not be a big-time point producer, you know, having that cookie monster edge. In contrast, what Lafreniere brings, is a lot of skill, and a will to be one step ahead of you when the puck gets on his stick in tight. To that point, he scored four goals and added two assists in the first four games of the series. He was a huge part of the club being up three games to none.

Then, if the Rangers are indeed applying a next-man up mentality for their supporting role players, it is exactly what happened. Tonight’s game six playoff performer was none other than the third star from the game, Vincent Trocheck . Trocheck was all over the ice for the Rangers. Seemingly willing them himself through the second period lull. In fact, that is when he scored his goal, to bring it back to a one-goal game at the time. Then for the third period, and it was pure and simply the Chris Kreider show.

POV: @TheGarden when #NYR advanced to the ECF. pic.twitter.com/LaDfqby2dm — x – New York Rangers (@NYRangers) May 17, 2024

It really shows you how tight the series was in some ways. The Hurricanes can clearly dominate if they are applying themselves. They had too much depth scattered throughout this year’s roster not to. Adding Jake Guentzel was a huge deal. But ultimately, as good as the team might have been, they couldn’t get it done. Even though their goaltender, Frederik Andersen had a tremendous series and playoffs. Especially considering he was coming back from injury . But the Rangers are fully-deserving of the Eastern Conference Finals appearance. The winner of the other Eastern Conference final is still not decided. With the Florida Panthers currently up 3-2 over the Boston Bruins, game six goes tomorrow night from TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.

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