How to heave to in a yacht – Skip Novak's Storm Sailing

Heaving to is an ideal technique for riding out a storm, but there's an art to it in heavy seas. Skip Novak explains how to go about it.

[bobgaysummerland]

Skip is a great teacher...perfect explanations

[TurnerRentz]

This technique saves your life. It was ingrained in me when I was young. I will still watch this video six times and know it by heart before I even ever go out again. They make it look fun and easy, and it's not hard, but it's something you have to be able to do instinctively if you are ever in a position to really need it. I will be sailing a ketch, I will adapt the mizzen to help me with the mail and the stormsail in balance.

[sassy]

Thank you! This is the best description so far. I am most amazed to hear that some boats won't heave to at all! Now I can go out and try again but with a whole new approach to the exercise.

[Mungo-Man]

If you look at the body language of his crew you will see they are calm and at ease knowing they are in very safe hands. Master mariner for sure 👍

[seagull]

That was excellent! Thanks Yachting World and the crew of Pelagic!

[georgebraun]

great video. Done exactly that a number of times. One thing was missed - heaving to is not something possible to do when close to a lee shore as the boat will slowly creep across and downwind. It's a open water technique only.

[DariaBlackwell]

Thank you Skip for a great video and for making sure everyone is tethered to the boat.  Great seamanship by example. 

[nishkatupacs]

Thank you Skip for these videos. Your like sailing with an encyclopedia.

[CLH]

Bertie's doing all the work in this series! :)

[williewonka]

Was taught that heaving to is initiated by tacking to backwind the jib. Skips first statement is this step can't even be done in challenging conditions. I watch this video several times each year to make sure the steps are fully digested and second nature.

[allaKIMbo]

This might as well be a podcast. You've got this obviously skilled sailing crew, a good boat and a good camera and editing crew - why not show what is actually going on with the sails? This is the first time I have seen anything in this series but you definitely need a RIB or fastboat to shoot video from. 

[billgiles]

It is useful even in mild weather, just hove to for a few minutes to make a drink, prepare food and use the heads all on the level.

[ZoneTelevision]

He makes it look so easy .. great temperament too.

[theplinkerslodge]

This is level-up sailing... Great share, I hope you are all well.

[johnm]

He makes it look so easy and enjoyable which it probably is after you have done it a few times.

[Darfur]

We use this technique on the Viper 640 in between races on heavy wind days to give the crew a break and to stay near the start line waiting for the race sequence to start.

[Dr.Pepper]

This reminds me of when I was in college and decided to join the debating team, but someone talked me out of it.

[jacobuszwanenburg]

Awesome ! I kitesurf and do this in strong wind to relax at a snails pace calmly while the water goes crazy
Practise this technique so it’s memory when needed

[sailingtroublemaker]

Nice manoeuvre. Yesterday we had a jammed infurling main sail and we reef to in nice way maintaining 1.7kt drift, boat was a Hunter 33, wind 18 to 25kt and waves at 3m. We manage to solve the problem calmly.

[petethewrist]

With a good boat as my old Dockrell is she will keep a trusty course on her own even in strong winds and rough see. And she also heaves too so well. I fell safe in all conditions.