How To Prepare Your Sailboat for a Storm When on a Mooring

Use this checklist to create your own storm preparation list. Each boat, harbor, and mooring are different. Be sure to share your best practices!

Are you’re like me? Each year I forget what to do when a major storm is threatening. I finally built a checklist for my Tartan 4400. Use this list as a foundation to make your own storm prep check list.

Mooring Storm Preparation List

30 to 45 Knots

• Cleat off roller furling line.
• Secure mainsail and sail cover with several ties.
• Remove outboard and all gear from dinghy.
• Secure any gear on deck (kayaks, etc)
• Remove BBQ Grill from rail.
• Check mooring line chafe gear at bridle and run a small line over loop on cleat.
• Bring cockpit cushions below.
• Turn Dorade Vents away from wind.

46 to 60 Knots (in addition to the above)

• Remove jib from roller furler.
• Wrap entire mainsail with line.
• Remove anchor.
• Remove spinnaker pole from front of mast and stow on deck or below.
• Bring dinghy aboard and lash down on foredeck.
• Secure the pick-up buoy so that it won’t blow around.
• Remove all flags.
• Remove cockpit enclosure side panels.

> 60 Knots (in addition to the above)

• Back up mooring bridle with chain.
• Remove mainsail.
• Messenger halyards (Genoa, Spinnaker, Main) and run to the top of the mast.
• Store dinghy ashore.
• Strip deck of all movable gear, Bimini, dodger, solar panels, and store below.
• Remove Dorade vents and cap off.