Meeting the Storm: How to Prepare Your Vessel, Survive Heavy Rolling, and Avoid Flying Out of Your Bunk

Hello to everyone at sea or preparing for a voyage! Sooner or later, every seafarer encounters a proper storm—force 8 or 9 on the Beaufort scale. For a newcomer, the first storm is an unforgettable thrill ride that quickly turns into quiet terror when the ship creaks and groans, and walls of water rise beyond the portholes.

The main task before a storm is the Storm Warning procedure. The Chief gives the command "secure everything": everything that could break loose is checked for proper securing (mooring lines, anchors, hatch covers). In the engine room, tools are secured and tank levels are verified. In the galley, the cook puts up fiddles (restraining bars), otherwise the soup ends up on the floor.

A lifehack for sleeping in rough seas: place a rolled-up blanket or life vest under one edge of your mattress to create an incline toward the bulkhead—you'll be "wedged" against the wall. For seasickness, Dramamine or ginger can help, but the main thing is not to sit in a stuffy cabin but to stay busy with work.

How do you handle heavy storms? What's the maximum wave height you've encountered in your experience?