Storm Tactics
with John Neal | Team Mahina
Learn storm survival tactics from one of the world’s most experienced sailors.
This online class, taught by renowned offshore sailor John Neal, will give you the knowledge and confidence to face challenging conditions at sea. With insights from 400,000 ocean miles and decades of experience, John will guide you through proven storm survival tactics, helping you prepare for and manage storms effectively. Whether you’re a coastal cruiser or planning offshore voyages, this class will equip you with essential skills to keep your boat and crew safe.
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Online Class Overview
In this online class, John Neal will discuss survival tactics for all types of vessels including some new techniques based on his 400,000 ocean miles and 50 years’ experience including decades of Southern Ocean and Arctic Ocean and Barents Sea experience, six Cape Horn roundings, two Drake Passage crossings, two cyclones, and the 1994 Queen’s Birthday Storm.
Who is this online class for?
This online class is designed for offshore sailors, coastal cruisers, passagemakers, and anyone preparing to sail in challenging weather conditions. Whether you’re planning your first offshore passage or looking to improve your heavy weather decision-making and storm preparedness, this class provides practical knowledge that can help you better protect your crew and vessel at sea.
It’s especially valuable for sailors interested in offshore cruising, ocean passagemaking, weather strategy, storm preparation, and real-world heavy weather tactics for both monohulls and multihulls.
What Will I Learn?
In this online class, you’ll learn proven storm survival tactics developed through John Neal’s 400,000 offshore miles and decades of real-world experience in some of the world’s most demanding conditions. You’ll gain practical insight into storm preparation, sail reduction planning, storm sail options, weather routing, sea anchors, drogues, and the advantages and limitations of different heavy weather tactics.
List of Topics:
Considerations & Preparations
- Yacht Design: Choosing a boat that allows you the widest range of storm tactic choices.
- Gain experience in gradually increasing conditions.
- Increase your knowledge of marine weather and storm system movement.
- Develop and post a Sail Reduction Guide.
- Storm sail options.
- Consider storm management devices: drogues, sea anchors.
- Install communication systems for receiving weather and routing information.
- Ensure your wind instruments are accurate and dependable.
- When is it prudent to employ a professional weather router, and who offers the best services available for each region?
Storm Procedures
- Before departure
- When in a storm
- Crew responsibility
- Rogue or exceptional waves
Ten Specific Storm Tactics
- Advantages and cautions of each tactic explained in detail as conditions deteriorate considering specific boat handling characteristics of mono and multihull.
Dealing with Anxiety
Seasickness: Avoidance & Treatment
Bonus Content:
Heavy Weather Tactics for Offshore Sailors
PREPARATION BEFORE THE STORM ARRIVES
Successfully handling heavy weather begins long before conditions deteriorate. Offshore sailors must understand storm preparation, weather systems, sail reduction strategies, vessel limitations, and the importance of making smart decisions early. In this online class, legendary offshore sailor John Neal shares the practical preparation techniques, storm planning systems, and real-world lessons developed through more than 400,000 offshore miles and decades of ocean sailing experience.
REAL-WORLD STORM SURVIVAL LESSONS
From rogue waves and severe weather routing decisions to drogues, sea anchors, storm sails, and crew management, heavy weather sailing demands both preparation and adaptability. John Neal shares proven storm tactics used aboard a wide range of monohulls and multihulls while explaining the advantages, limitations, and risks of each approach. Through real-world stories and highly practical guidance, sailors will gain valuable insight into managing storms more safely and confidently at sea.
BUILD CONFIDENCE IN CHALLENGING CONDITIONS
Confidence offshore comes from preparation, experience, and understanding how to respond when conditions become unpredictable. Whether you’re preparing for offshore passages, ocean crossings, or simply want to become more capable in deteriorating weather, this online class provides practical insight into storm management, crew responsibilities, weather awareness, and decision-making under pressure. You’ll leave with greater confidence, realistic expectations, and proven strategies for handling heavy weather more effectively.
Your Instructor
JOHN NEAL
Author, Log of the Mahina
John Neal’s 400,000 offshore miles include six Cape Horn roundings plus expeditions to Antarctica, Africa, Australia, and Spitsbergen. Since 1976, John’s passion has been sharing his ocean cruising knowledge through 204 sail training expeditions aboard Mahina Tiare III, a Hallberg-Rassy 46 and various other yachts. John is author, co-author or contributing author of 17 books including Log of the Mahina. When John’s not at sea leading sail-training expeditions he teaches Mahina Offshore Cruising Workshops and offers boat purchase consultation services.
