[mohan7]

The profound calm which only apparently precedes and prophesies of the storm, is perhaps more awful than the storm itself' for, indeed, the calm is but the wrapper and envelope of the storm, and contains it in itself, as the seemingly harmless rifle holds the fatal powder, and the ball, and the explosion. -- Herman Melville

Needless to say, the best tactic to deal with heavy weather is to avoid it.

If you are able, actively sailing in heavy weather is preferable to passively riding out the storm.

The first tactic is to run with the wind.

Passive techniques involve positioning the bow of your boat into the wind to help avoid broaching and capsizing. Unlike active techniques, the boat has no hope of lessening the force of the storm, or avoiding an approaching large breaking wave which can pitchpoll (end-over-end capsizing of the boat) the boat

hold on, the calm is coming or be able.