Heave-To Procedure
How to heave-to — backing the jib against the main to stop the boat and rest the crew in heavy weather — plus when to use it, the differences for monohulls and catamarans, and when to pick a different tactic.
BACKED JIB · MAIN ON · HELM LASHED · DRIFT QUIETLY
Heaving-to balances two opposing forces — the backed jib pushing the bow off the wind and the mainsail and lashed helm pushing it back — so the boat sits at roughly 45–60° off the wind, barely moving. It is one of the safest heavy-weather tactics, but it requires sea room to leeward and a boat that will hold the balance.
Position & Balance of Forces
The backed jib pushes the bow off the wind; the main and lashed helm push it back. They balance, and the boat sits quietly at ~45–60° off, drifting slowly to leeward.
The Maneuver — Tack & Leave the Jib Backed
1. Close-hauled
Sail hard on the wind on your chosen tack.
2. Tack through
Helm hard over. Do NOT release the jib sheet.
3. Jib backs
Jib now fills on the wrong side against the main.
4. Helm lashed · hove-to
Lash helm to leeward. Balance at ~50° off, drift downwind.
When to Use It
Riding out a blow
Rest the crew, eat, wait for weather to pass, or hold position safely when you have sea room to drift downwind.
MOB recovery stop
Stop the boat near a man-overboard casualty to keep station while you recover the person — a classic MOB holding pattern.
Making repairs on deck
Steady the boat so crew can work the foredeck, clear a fouled sail, or sort a problem without driving hard into the seas.
Waiting for daylight
Hold off a dangerous landfall, bar crossing, or harbour entry overnight, drifting safely until visibility improves.
Step-by-Step — How to Heave-To
Harden up onto a close-hauled tack
Sail hard on the wind on the tack you intend to heave-to on. Build a little way and confirm the boat is balanced and the helm is light.
Reef down to your heave-to sail plan
Reef the main (2nd reef or deep reef is typical) and set a small jib — a staysail or storm jib. Less sail = a quieter, safer boat when hove-to.
Tack through the wind — leave the jib backed
Put the helm hard over to tack. The main comes across normally, but DO NOT release the jib sheet — let it back (fill on the wrong side) against the main.
Lash the helm to leeward
As the boat falls off, lash the tiller/wheel down so the rudder tries to turn the bow back into the wind. The backed jib pushes the bow off; the helm and main push it on. They balance.
Trim to find the balance point
Eased-it-too-far or over-sheeted and the boat will gybe or tack through. Adjust main sheet and jib sheet until the boat sits at ~45–60° off the wind, gently forereaching.
Forereach gently and monitor
The boat should drift slowly to leeward at 0.5–1.5 kn, making slight forward way. Watch your drift, keep watch, and keep crew clipped on. Adjust trim as wind shifts.
Monohull vs Catamaran
Monohull
- Heaves-to very effectively — deep keel and ballast let the boat sit quietly at ~45° to the wind and drift slowly to leeward.
- Backed jib + reefed main + lashed helm typically balances within a few minutes of trimming.
- Drift is gentle (often under 1 kn) and the motion is comfortable enough to rest, eat, and repair.
- The classic, preferred storm and holding tactic for a monohull with sea room.
Catamaran
- Hoves-to less effectively than a monohull — shallow draft and no ballast mean more sideways slide and less grip on the water.
- Often forereaches too fast or sails out of the slot; some cats will not hold a hove-to position at all.
- Many cat sailors prefer to run before the seas (with a drogue if needed) instead of heaving-to in heavy weather.
- If you do heave-to, use a deeply-reefed main and a tiny backed jib, and expect more leeway — ensure ample sea room downwind.
Balancing the Helm — Fine-Tuning
The goal is a boat that sits quietly without tacking through or gybing away. If something is off, adjust one thing at a time:
Forereaching too fast? Ease the main sheet or reduce jib. More backed jib pushes the bow down and slows forward way.
Tacking through the wind? The helm is pushing the bow up too hard. Ease main or harden the jib sheet so the backed jib holds the bow off.
Bearing away and gybing? The jib is overpowering the main. Sheet the main harder or set a larger jib / reduce the backed jib.
Drifting sideways too fast? That is normal — leeward drift is expected. You need sea room downwind; monitor your track on chartplotter or by bearings.
When NOT to Heave-To
- No sea room to leeward — you will drift downwind at 0.5–2 kn. Don't heave-to onto a lee shore, reef, or shipping lane.
- Breaking seas on a beam reach — a boat hove-to presents a relatively narrow bow angle, but large beam seas can still roll you. Run before them instead.
- Catamarans in survival conditions — most cats slide or forereach uncontrollably; prefer running before with a drogue.
- When you must make a destination — heaving-to stops progress. If you need to keep going, keep sailing.
- Shallow water or a fouled-bottom area — drift could put you aground. Heave-to only with safe water downwind.
Related Pages
What to Do in Rough Seas
Broader storm tactics and the heading to sail
Drogue & Sea Anchor
Slowing and holding when running before
Storm Prep Checklist
Pre-storm preparation before it hits
Plan Sailing Shifts & Handovers
Rest the crew safely while offshore