The heavy weather sailing experience differs for everyone depending on personalities and the boat's capabilities. Many think of heavy sailing as severe storms, pounding rain and crashing seas. At times this is realistic, others not. We'll put that in perspective here.

For starters, you shouldn't set sail without checking the weather. Many do. Why? People plan around time off and sometimes that limitation gets in the way of common sense. Many think they can out run the weather. Not in a sailboat. Are you kidding me? They play Russian roulette, thinking they'll miss the storm. Even if you only have a small time frame for vacation, it's not worth risking disaster. These are the incidents you read about in the newspaper. The coast guard saves them from the outcome of their poor judgment, time after time.

Prudence is necessary. Always check the current weather along your travel route - the seas, wind, etc. Be aware when the last weather front past and when the next is due to arrive. Usually, if rain is predicted tomorrow, a low pressure system moves through. When followed by good weather, a high pressure follows, bringing with it gusty winds. In the spring and fall, systems come through frequently.

During the summertime, it's best to wait for the low to pass and set sail then, given that the next system is a few days away. Travel from harbor to harbor during the pleasant weather. Granted, not all weather systems will work like this. Always err on the side of caution.

Sometimes, it's inevitable that you must face heavy weather. If you're on an extended sail, you may face a quick approaching weather system. This has happened to me countless times. When you're offshore, it's easier to handle than when you're coastal. At times, the winds blow at up to 40 knots and waves are large and high, but not breaking. Coastal is a completely different story, and sailing in the Gulf Stream is quite another.

Now, to put things in a clearer perspective, the seas don't become instantly wild offshore. Even if winds suddenly started blowing at 35 knots, the seas would rise gradually. You'd shorten your sails, but still you have time. The seas build up over time, sometimes taking days, sometimes just hours, depending on the how fast the winds build. The wind is what lifts the sea up in waves. While the wind is building, you have time to adjust your sailing. You shorten your sails or you may opt to put up your storm sails. Close the hatches and windows. Stow away any loose equipment and accessories so nothing flies around. Then on deck, anything not needed gets stowed, anything that can get airborne is also stowed or tied down. Prepare yourself with foul weather clothes and nourishment to keep up your strength.

Once you're prepared for the heavy weather, you'll see you had plenty of time to do what was necessary. As the seas build you will find they get high, and on top of that rise is a long flattish area, then you go down again. This is offshore, closer in-shore they get steep and short causing other problems, which is another discussion. Generally, when offshore, the seas get high and long, giving your sailing experience some exercise. You can minimize your heeling by keeping your sails short enough. See, your working into the building conditions. In 30 knot winds you can still be on a close reach, taking the seas head on, well almost. As the wind and seas build even more, the tops of the seas that were once long and flat become shorter in length. I've stayed in a close reach in a steady 38 knots with gusts 42-45. The right sails out bring the right motion. When winds become increasingly strong, your destination must become secondary. This realization will help you beat out the storm. The storm won't last forever. It will blow itself out, and this front will move on. So when I said destination becomes second, then what is first? Your boat's sailing characteristics. Throughout the years, I've discovered that every sailboat has its own individual best point of sail. This is the point when the sailboat feels comfortable. I have found through the years that all sailboats have their own best point of sail. Some sailboats can head into those seas better than others, falling off and running is fine also, because you have a wider angle to work with. Have enough sail out so when the seas come up behind you, it doesn't swallow your stern. Sometimes idling your engine in forward gear gives you enough momentum to slide in front of the seas, because the seas block the wind and leaves you stagnant until wind returns to your sails. By that time, your stern may be under some water. I've been there and had to learn that lesson quickly, having seen my stern engulfed by the sea. So now you just find the sweet spot of the boat's characteristics to the seas at hand. The wind and seas can maintain the same rhythm hour after hour. When your boat reaches that point of stability wave after wave, it has attained its point of sail. When your boat moves at the right speed, despite the gusts, with the engine idling in forward gear, you will ride it through.

Captain Douglas Malat is the co-creator of Yacht Authority, a website featuring new and used sailboats for sale across the country. Click here to submit article.