Heaving to

Heaving to is a very powerful tool to have in your bag of tricks as a sailor. It’s a very quick and effective way to stop the boat in the water and ride out a storm, fix broken parts, rest, or even just stop for a lunch break. The maneuver is simple in theory and practice. The boat is ‘tacked’ but the jib is left cleated, allowing it to backwind when the bow goes through the wind. Once on the other tack, the tiller/rudder is/are reversed slowly to turn the boat back towards the wind, and the main sail is depowered. The opposing forces of the jib and the rudder will eventually settle down in equilibrium and the boat will point approximately 45° to the wind and waves- which is the preferred angle to take on cresting water. Starting the maneuver on a Port tack with ensure you are on a Starboard tack once hove-to, which is the preferred tack for right-of-way.