Introduction

The ship’s skipper is a good man, but he isn’t always the most transparent of people. This can lead to confusion when you’re on a boat and trying to figure out if he’s using a storm jib. Luckily, there are some telltale signs that will help you identify whether or not your vessel has de-masted itself with a storm jib:

The first clue that a storm jib is being used is the lack of storm jib on the bow of the vessel.

The first clue that a storm jib is being used is the lack of storm jib on the bow of the vessel. Most vessels with a traditional gaff rig will be equipped with a storm jib, but if you see one without one, you can bet they’re in for some heavy weather.

Storm jibs are usually made of canvas and are used in high winds when sailing at speed or into an oncoming headwind. Since they’re not as strong as other headsails (like genoas or spinnakers), they should only be flown when conditions warrant their use—otherwise, sailors can rely on their regular headsail for moderate wind speeds.

The second clue will be the skipper’s reluctance to raise anchor and leave port.

A second clue that a storm jib is being rigged is the skipper’s reluctance to raise anchor and leave port. The reason for this is twofold:

• The skipper wants to save money. By leaving an hour or more early, he can avoid having to pay an extra crew member (who will be paid overtime) to help him raise and take down his boat’s main sail, as well as save on gas costs by not traveling any further than necessary.
• If he leaves within the next day or two, the skipper will likely get caught up in the storm himself and thus have no choice but to sail under a storm jib anyway!

The third clue will be if, after leaving port, the vessel does not turn its nose into the wind.

The third clue will be if, after leaving port, the vessel does not turn its nose into the wind.

This is a very helpful clue because it allows you to determine whether or not your suspect has actually left port. If they didn’t leave port, then they probably won’t turn their nose into the wind. If they did leave port and head out on open water where there are no other boats in sight, then you should look elsewhere for your culprits because this can be a sign that they are doing something illegal (like smuggling drugs).

The fourth clue is if the vessel does not come about after approximately 120 seconds. We call this behavior ‘ghosting’.

The fourth clue is if the vessel does not come about after approximately 120 seconds. We call this behavior “ghosting.” Ghosting is when a boat continues to move in the same direction without being steered and it can happen for two reasons:

• The skipper might be asleep or on autopilot (these are both bad).
• The skipper may have forgotten to turn off his/her autopilot after sailing upwind but forgot to put their hand back on the tiller handle before going below deck for lunch, etc. In this case, we recommend keeping an eye out for some sort of visual indicator that something is wrong and calling upon your fellow crew members or friends who have been enjoying themselves onshore at anchorages further downwind than you have been anchored at so that they can assist as needed by correcting course heading with their own vessel and/or alerting authorities via marine band radio channel 16 VHF radio.*

The fifth clue is if, during ghosting, a considerable amount of water is seen in the cockpit.

The fifth clue is if, during ghosting, a considerable amount of water is seen in the cockpit. If you can see water streaming off the jib as it flies up and down, then this is indicative of a storm jib being used. If no significant amount of water is observed in the cockpit during ghosting and your skipper has not informed you that he or she is using a storm jib, then it’s likely that they’re going to be using one soon.

The sixth, seventh, eighth and all subsequent clues are when pieces of your vessel begin to fly through the air.

The sixth, seventh, eighth and all subsequent clues are when pieces of your vessel begin to fly through the air. It’s a sure sign that you’re being hit by a storm jib (a large sail that is only used in extreme conditions). A storm jib is not a permanent fixture on your vessel; it’s something that’s added or removed from the boat depending on how fast the wind is blowing. It can be dangerous because it can rip off its moorings and hurt someone if they’re not careful when putting it down after using it during an impending storm.

Your skipper may or may not be using a storm jib.

But don’t worry. A skipper who doesn’t want to use a storm jib might be willing to let you know that he or she doesn’t want to use one, if only because he or she is afraid of what will happen when you discover that it’s not there.

For example: “I’d love to use my storm jib, but I don’t have one.” That’s a clear sign that the skipper is trying his best not to lose face by saying something like “I don’t have any intention of using my storm jib in this weather.”

In other cases—for instance when your skipper says something along the lines of “I’d love nothing more than for us all to live through this”—it may be harder for him or her not to say something about their intentions regarding their storm jib usage. In these situations, watch closely for clues as your skipper explains how they plan on keeping everyone alive during this turbulent time!

Conclusion

If you think your skipper is using a storm jib, there are several things you can do. First, check your vessel for signs of water in the cockpit or on deck. Next, check the weather forecast and see if there are any warnings about high winds or stormy seas. If so, contact your insurance company or ask them what they recommend doing next! Finally, consider getting some experience with storm jibs by taking courses such as those offered through PADI’s Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI-PAID) program and other organizations worldwide who offer certification courses in recreational diving safety disciplines such as scuba diving safety training programs (for example: Recreational Diving Safety Courses).