Introduction

Sailing in High Winds

Wind Preparation

Stow and Secure

Check the Weather

Clothing and Protection

# Rigging and Equipment

## Mooring and Anchoring

### Heaving-to or Running off

#### Communication and Safety

##### Emergency Supplies

###### Landfall Preparations

####### Conclusion

Introduction

Sailing in high winds can be an exhilarating experience. But, it can also be dangerous if you’re not prepared. To ensure a safe voyage, sailors must take the time to properly prepare their boat and gear for the high winds they may encounter. In this article, we’ll discuss how to prepare for sailing in 70 mph winds. We’ll cover topics such as stowing and securing gear, checking the weather, clothing and protection, rigging and equipment, mooring and anchoring, heaving-to or running off, communication and safety, emergency supplies, and landfall preparations. By following these steps you can ensure that you stay safe while sailing in high winds.

Sailing in High Winds

Sailing in high winds requires a different set of skills than sailing in calmer conditions. You must be prepared with the right equipment to handle these conditions safely. The most important thing is to know your limits before setting sail – don’t push yourself beyond what you are comfortable with! Before heading out into high winds make sure your boat is seaworthy and all of your safety gear is up to date. Also familiarize yourself with the proper sailing techniques for handling high wind conditions before setting sail.

Wind Preparation

Once you know that you are going to be sailing in high wind conditions there are a few things you should do before leaving port. Start by stowing any loose items on board and make sure everything is securely fastened down so it won’t become a hazard if it blows away or shifts during the voyage. This includes everything from lines to extra sails to food and beverage containers – anything that could become a projectile if left unattended. Additionally, check all of your rigging for wear or damage that could cause problems during the voyage.

Stow and Secure

Stowing items on board is more than just putting them away – it’s making sure they are secure so they don’t become projectiles when wind speeds increase. Items like sails should be stowed away below decks while extra lines should be tied off securely so they won’t come loose during gusts of wind or waves hitting the side of the boat. Additionally, check all hatches, ports, doors, windows etc., that could become sources of water intrusion if left open during higher winds speeds – make sure they are closed tightly or gasketed when not in use!

Check the Weather

Before setting sail in any conditions its important to check the local weather forecast for wind speeds as well as any other potential hazards such as storms or cold fronts passing through. Make sure you get an accurate forecast from a reliable source that takes into account wind speed as well as direction – this will help you plan your route accordingly so you don’t end up getting caught in an unexpected squall or gale force winds!

Clothing and Protection

When sailing in high winds make sure everyone on board has appropriate clothing for protection against wind chill as well as spray coming off of waves hitting the boat – waterproof jackets/pants are especially important here! Additionally, wearing polarized sunglasses can help reduce glare from waves bouncing off of whitecaps which can cause eye strain over time – even if its cloudy its worth investing in a good pair of sunglasses when sailing in higher wind conditions!

# Rigging and Equipment

When preparing for higher wind speeds its important to have all of your rigging inspected regularly by a qualified rigger who knows what to look for when inspecting sails/halyards/sheets etc., This will help ensure that everything is up to code before setting sail – especially important when venturing out into higherwinds! Additionally check all safety equipment such as life jackets/harnesses/etc.,for wear/tear/and proper fitment prior to setting sail – no one wants any surprises when things get rough out there!

## Mooring and Anchoring

Make sure your mooring line(s) are securely tied offbefore leaving port– this is especially important when heading out into higherwindsas gusts can cause them to come undone or shift unexpectedly resultingin damageor loss of property! Additionallycheck your anchorsfor wear/tearor corrosion – replace any wornout anchorsprior totaking offsoyou don’thaveany surprisesalongthe way!

### Heaving-to or Running Off

When sailinginhigherwindsitsimportanttoconsiderwhetheryouwanttorunoff(headingsouthawayfromthewind)orheave-to(staysomewhereinthemiddle)soyoucanrideoutthestormsafely withoutputtingyourselforanyothersin danger! Heaving-toisagreatwaytopreserveenergyandmaintaincontrolofyourboatwhilewaitingforthestormtopass–justmake sureyourriggingissecureandthatyouhaveenoughfuelonboardtomake itbackhomeafterwards safely!

#### Communicationand Safety

Make sureyouhaveallnecessarycommunicationdevicesonboard–cellphones/radios/etc.,–soyoucanstayintouchwith shoreside personnelin caseofemergenciesorchangesintheweatherforecastaswellasstayconnectedwithothervesselsthatmaybenearto helpifyouneedit!Additionallycheckallothersafetyequipmentonyourboat–fire extinguishers/flares/etc.,–soyouknowtheyarereadyforuseineventofanemergencyorsuddenchangeinweatherconditionsatsea!

##### Emergency Supplies

Be preparedforanyeventualityonboardbyhavingadequateemergencysuppliesonhandincludingfirstaidkitssomeformoffoodandwaterandspareclothingin caseofunexpectedweatherchangesatsea–thesewillcomeinhandyifyougetstrandedoutthereormustabandonshipquicklydue tonaturaldisastersoremergenciesatsea!

                                                      ###### Landfall Preparations   

Inadditiontopreparationforsailinginthosehighwindsconditionsitsalsorecommendedtoplansomeformoflandfallpreparationsincaseyouendupneedingtopullintoa portforshelterfromthestormordamagerepairsonyourboat–makearrangementsforhotelroomscampgroundsandotheraccommodationspriortohittingthehighseasjustincaseyouendupneedingthemforsafetyreasonsduringyourvoyage!
  ##### Conclusion
 Sailinginhighwindscanbeanextremelyexcitingexperiencebutitcanalsobecomemoredangerouswhenproperprecautionsarenottakenbeforesettingouttosea–byfollowingtherightstepsandsafetysolutionsbeforeventuringoutintohigherwindsitispossibletocontrolrisksandsailinsafetywithoutcompromisingenjoymentoftheexperience!