Sailing Yachts in rough seas

Whether it's 50-knot gusts or rolling ocean swell, rain coming in sideways or thunder booming in the distance, there's no question: sailing in storms in the true test of seamanship. Check out our gallery of incredible storm sailing on everything from massive ocean-going race boats to simple sailboards.

Storm sails
Everything we have no idea: where that is or who is steering that vessel. What we can say for certain: those tend to be stormy seas, and tiny sails. This is the time to brace yourself, reef the main, and obtain out the blade sails.

Sailing in a violent storm © John Lund

Near the wind
Forget Alex Thomson and Pepe Ribes asking through big seas off the Brit shore on Hugo employer. Spare a thought for cruising professional photographer Mark Lloyd who had been shooting from a helicopter. “It was directly on the restrictions, ” he claims.

The Hugo Employer IMOCA 60 battles huge British seas © Lloyd Images

Pointing power
Emirates Team New Zealand pierces through the search through the AUDI MedCup. We are going to guess the team got wet.

Emirates Team New Zealand © Ian Roman

Imposing Tazzy waves
Dany Bruch in the Mission 2 for the Red Bull Storm Chase in Temma Harbour, Tasmania. It took a storm with power 10 winds to make waves this dimensions.

Dany Bruch in Tasmania © Sebastian Marko/Red Bull Content Pool

Cold cruncher
Dany Bruch, again, during the Red Bull Storm Chase on Bluff in Cornwall, The united kingdomt. Wetsuit required – this is in February!

Dany Bruch off Cornwall, England © Sebastian Marko/Red Bull Content Pool

Storm strategy
A Volvo Ocean Race vessel actually your average lake-side dinghy. Virtually every manoeuvre included – tacking, jibing, or increasing the sails – needs a rehearsed, choreographed work from the crew. If the weather goes awry, the stakes get a lot higher.

Team work © Jen Edney/edneyap.com

Non-optimal problems
Storms don't just happen on sea. A racer into the Optimist course waits out some climate during a regatta in Trieste, Italy.

Mini Barcolana Race, Trieste © Carlo Borlenghi

Foam and fun
Rough seas and whitewater throughout the The united states's Cup Final near Queensland.

America's Cup Final rough ocean © Carlo Borlenghi

only a little bow spray
The bow of a battle vessel pierces through surf in the Portofino Rolex Trophy.

Portofino Rolex Trophy 2011 © ROLEX/Carlo Borlenghi

Aim break
Beginning Malta and available Sicily and its countries, the Rolex center water Race passes two energetic volcanos. The circumstances during the time of the image taken were extreme – blowing around 35 knots (65kph) with huge seas.

Extreme conditions at Rolex Middle Water Race © Kurt Arrigo

Pour-tugal
Rain coming over the deck laterally through the Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing in Cascais, Portugal.

Onboard circumstances in Cascais © Ian Roman/Abu Dhabi Ocean Racing

Soloing a violent storm
Here is the best way on train for the Vendée world – a solo-skippered regatta around the world, plus one of the very most tough events in sailing.

Bertrand De Broc's ship challenging the harsh water © Vincent Curutchet / Deep Frame/DPPI

White-water
French sailor François Gabart during a 24-hour, bad-weather education sail in Brittany. Positive thing most storms do not last all day long.