Unless the weather is fine and you are well acquainted with them, keep off lee shores. A lee shore is a bad place to go aground, and it is a bad place to be caught on if a heavy blow comes.
Weather shore:
In strong winds and heavy weather it is always best to get in under the lee of a weather shore, and to keep it aboard as long as possible. You should figure to do this in mapping out runs from place to place. In running a weather shore keep working your boat up to it, especially in the bights between headlands. This will enable you to choose your own distance in rounding the outermost points and prevent being driven off shore.
Caught on a lee shore:
If caught at anchor close on a lee shore where you are too close to wear with safety, you can get your anchor and cast your boat in the right tack by this method: Make sail; then when all is ready heave in until half scope; then get a bucket with a line bent to it, carry this line outside the rigging and the bucket as far forward as possible. Let one hand hold it ready to cast overboard on the side you want to fill on. Haul in your anchor quickly; when broken out, heave the bucket overboard, and give a slow, steady pull on the line from as far aft as convenient. This will hold her stern and the bow will swing off in the opposite direction. If you have no bucket, use a hunk of ballast, and slip it when her head is round.
Miss-staying in a seaway:
The cause of this is generally carelessness or haste. Sufficient way is not on the boat when the helm is put down, owing to her being too near the wind. Always give a boat a good full before putting the helm a-lee. You should watch the sea and make the move when there is a smooth flat spot between the waves. If there is any doubt of the boat’s getting round it is better to wear her.
Miss-staying in a seaway:
If your boat miss stays in a seaway and gets sternway on, don’t jam your helm hard over. Keep it amidship, and try and get your headsail a-back; then slowly put your helm over. It is a dangerous practice to jam a helm hard over when a boat is making a stern board in a seaway, as you are liable to damage the rudder or drive her counter under. If a centerboard boat, pull up the board, as this will help her to fall off.
