If I was in open ocean in large seas I would want to run off, if anywhere close to coarse, as I have done or have a sea anchor set from the bow. For our trip from NZ to Seattle I had a sea anchor along more for keeping the boat headed into the wind, than for expecting a storm, and in that way settle the boat down if I was without power while I repaired the engines or waited for help. Working on any vessel when she lays abeam to the sea is no fun. That would also work if for some reason you were out of fuel and were waiting for help. On Wild Wind III my 50' sailing cat I was running down wind in the Red Sea with very small sail area because I promised to stay with a small mono sailboat. I was pooped and almost lost my dingy on the stern. I had been in larger seas before and with a little more speed had no trouble. I also have a Galeryder, meant to be used to slow the boat, but have never used it. With the Red Sea experience in mind I never will. In all the miles we have boated we have gone in season and if you do that most likely the type of storm that would require a sea anchor will not occur. Dennis Raedeke Wild Wind IV