What to do in a thunderstorm or strong winds on a boat?

In short: a thunderstorm or a gale can almost always be anticipated thanks to the marine weather forecast. If the weather deteriorates, the rule is simple: stay in harbour or reach shelter before the bad weather arrives. At sea, reduce sail, secure the crew and the boat, and keep the VHF on and tuned to channel 16. If you are sailing with a skipper or a crew, they make the decisions: all you need to do is follow their instructions.

Plan ahead before every departure

• Check the marine forecast every morning, not just the land forecast: wind strength and direction, gusts, sea state and risk of thunderstorms.
• Compare several sources: official forecasts (the Met Office shipping and inshore waters forecasts in UK waters, Météo-France in French waters, the national weather service elsewhere), forecasts broadcast on VHF and wind forecasting apps.
• Keep an eye out for strong wind and gale warnings: they are issued when strong winds or a gale (force 8 and above) are forecast for your area, and broadcast on VHF. In UK inshore waters, strong wind warnings start at force 6.
• Adapt your plans: a shorter passage, a better-sheltered anchorage or a day in harbour is better than an uncomfortable sail.
• Identify sheltered spots along your route: harbours and anchorages protected from the forecast wind direction. Avoid exposed anchorages with no natural shelter whenever the wind is due to strengthen or shift. With sailing boat hire in Croatia, for example, the many islands offer shelter from every wind direction, provided you have located them before the bora picks up.
• Listen carefully to the base briefing: the local team knows the prevailing winds and the pitfalls of the area.

At what wind strength should you stay in harbour?

Wind is measured on the Beaufort scale. In marine forecasts, a gale starts at force 8. On a sailing holiday, conditions become uncomfortable well before that.

Most bareboat hire contracts prohibit leaving harbour above a certain wind strength. This limit is set out in your contract and the base may remind you of it during the briefing.

What should you do in a gale at sea?

Keep the crew safe

• Make sure everyone wears a lifejacket, and anyone who needs to go on deck wears a harness clipped to a jackstay (a webbing line running from bow to stern along the deck).
• Gather passengers in the cockpit or down below, with children down below.
• Keep movement on deck to a strict minimum.
• Drink water and have a snack: fatigue and seasickness set in quickly in rough seas.

Prepare the boat

• Reduce sail early: reef the mainsail (reduce its area) or furl the genoa (the headsail) before the wind picks up.
• Close portholes, deck hatches and the companionway.
• Stow and secure anything that could move, both down below and on deck.
• Check that the engine is ready to start.
• Fix your position and plot a course to the nearest shelter.

Adapt your sailing

• Stay well clear of lee shores (coasts the wind is blowing towards), where you could be pushed onto the rocks.
• Choose a comfortable point of sail (your heading relative to the wind) rather than the shortest route.
• Avoid entering a narrow harbour or anchorage when the wind is at its strongest if the manoeuvre looks risky.
• Keep the VHF on channel 16 and listen to the forecasts.
• At anchor, let out more chain, check that the anchor is not dragging and leave before the wind peaks if it is veering onshore.

What should you do in a thunderstorm with a risk of lightning?

A thunderstorm on a sailing holiday rarely lasts long, but the gusts that come before it arrive quickly: it is best to prepare as soon as the sky darkens.

• In harbour or at anchor: stay down below and wait for the storm to pass, usually in less than an hour.
• At sea: reduce sail before the squall arrives (a sudden, violent gust of wind, often with heavy showers), as the gusts beneath a storm cloud can be sudden and violent.
• Avoid touching the mast, the shrouds (wires that hold the mast up), the guardrails (wires running around the deck) and any metal fittings connected to the rigging.
• Stay out of the water: no swimming and no trips in the tender during the storm.
• Unplug any non-essential electronic devices and keep a handheld VHF and a phone protected.
• Once the storm has passed, check the instruments, compass and engine.

Who decides, depending on your type of holiday?

• Skippered boat hire: the skipper decides and you follow their instructions.
• Crewed cabin cruise: the captain decides and you follow the onboard instructions.
• Bareboat hire: you decide as skipper, in line with your contract and the base's instructions.
• Canal boat hire: you decide, following the instructions of the waterway authorities.

On a canal boat, the wind mainly makes manoeuvres tricky (going through locks, mooring). In strong wind or a thunderstorm, the simplest option is to stay moored until it calms down. After heavy rain, navigation may be suspended on some stretches if the water level rises: the base will let you know.

Which winds should you know about at your destination?

These phenomena are seasonal trends, not forecasts: their frequency and strength vary from year to year, and only the day's marine forecast tells you what wind to actually expect.

If you are planning sailing boat hire in Greece in high summer, factor the meltemi into your itinerary: passages to the south of the Cyclades are downwind, but the return legs north can be lively.

Hurricanes are tracked several days in advance: if one threatens your area, the base organises shelter for the boats and tells you what to do.

Which numbers should you call in an emergency?

On VHF, a Mayday call signals distress involving grave and imminent danger (man overboard, taking on water, fire). A Pan-Pan call signals an urgent situation with no immediate danger to life, such as engine failure close to the coast. In UK waters, these calls are received by HM Coastguard; in France, by the CROSS. Both coordinate rescue at sea.

Filovent Concierge supports you throughout your holiday

From Monday to Friday, Filovent Concierge helps you if the weather upsets your plans: the team liaises with the base or the crew and helps you find a suitable solution. At weekends, contact the base or the crew first.

• Opening hours: Monday to Friday, 9.30am to 6.30pm.
• Languages: English, French, Spanish, Italian, German.
• Phone and WhatsApp: +33 1 70 80 97 35.
• Email: concierge@filovent.com, or info@filovent.com outside opening hours (checked every day).

Who should you contact first if there is a problem on site?

• Boat hire: the base manager, whose contact details are in your customer area, under the partner contact details.
• Cabin cruise: the crew on board.
• Then: Filovent Concierge, to support you with the next steps.

If the weather causes an incident (breakdown, damage, service not as described), report it on site to the base or the crew: this report is essential for Filovent to follow up on your case.

Frequently asked questions

Are days stuck in harbour due to bad weather refunded?

As a rule, no: weather is part of the unpredictability of sailing and the boat remains at your disposal. Cancellation and curtailment insurance rarely covers bad weather alone: check the exclusions before you take out a policy. Your Filovent adviser will help you choose the right cover when you book.

Should you return to the base early if the weather deteriorates at the end of your holiday?

Yes, it is recommended. If a gale is forecast for the last few days, head closer to the base in good time so you do not risk missing the check-out time or your flight home.

Can the skipper change the planned itinerary?

Yes. Safety comes before the schedule: the skipper or captain adapts the itinerary, stops and timings to the weather, even if it means spending a day in harbour or at anchor.

How can you limit seasickness in rough seas?

• Stay in the cockpit, in the middle of the boat, with your eyes on the horizon.
• Avoid reading or spending long periods down below.
• Eat light meals, but do not go without food.
• Take seasickness tablets before you set off, on a pharmacist's advice.

Is a skippered holiday safer in bad weather?

The skipper knows the area, its shelters and its local winds. Boat hire with a skipper is the best option if you are a beginner or heading to a region known for strong winds: the weather decisions are theirs to make.