The opinions on stormtactics differ and in my opinion differs due to circumstances but mainly due to which boat. you are on. Having experienced 2 survival storms the boats I was on then behaved differently. First time was on the North Atlantic on a 32ft longkeeled sloop. She heaved to very well but when circumstances deteriorated and we had a knock down,we ran bare pole with the wind. Having no drouge we used ropes and fenders after us to try to slow down the speed. Except for broken forestays,stormgib ripped to pieces and the windvane broken we managed well to the Azores.

Next time was on the North Sea and a Frer´s 44ft ketch. With winds gusting over 60kts she didn´t heave to very well and once again we found our selves running bare poles with the wind finally managing well to Skagen in Denmark. On a motortrawler like Dora Mac I think using our parachute anchor in the bow would be our first choice. If not successful,running with the wind using the drouge would be our other option.

Never the less-we tried the drouge and found it working well. It really did slow us down and the load on the ropes was impressive.