Heavy weather can be defined as conditions severe enough to cause a vessel on passage to consider modifying her plans, or to make a boat in harbour change her mind about putting to sea. Clearly, this point will vary from boat to boat and from crew to crew. A powerful,
well-handled displacement power yacht may be perfectly safe offshore in force 9 winds, while an inexperienced crew with a 22ft bilge-keeled sailing yacht might justifiably be unhappy in force 5. It is up to all skippers to know the limits of comfort and most especially safety. If necessary, steps must be taken to discover what these may be.
