Short answer

Prepare a rig for cyclone season by removing windage: take off headsails, remove or fully secure furling sails, remove the boom and running rigging where practical, and lash halyards away from the mast. Follow the marina or cyclone-mooring plan, and act on the published lead time rather than waiting for the forecast to confirm.

Windage is what destroys rigs in a cyclone. A furled headsail left on the forestay is a very large sail waiting to unroll, and once it does it will usually take the rig with it. Removing sails is the single highest-value action.

Halyards left loose flog and saw through their own exits and the mast. Lash every halyard away from the spar, or lead them to the rail and tension them, so nothing is free to whip.

Follow the local plan, not your own judgement. Marinas and cyclone moorings in northern Australia publish procedures with lead times built in, and those lead times exist because the window to act closes well before the system arrives.

Northern Australian conditions shorten rigging life generally, and cyclone exposure is part of that picture. Factor it into inspection frequency and replacement planning — see Australian sailing centres for how regional conditions differ.

Step by step

  1. Remove the sails

    Take off headsails entirely. Remove furling sails or secure them beyond any chance of unrolling.

  2. Strip windage

    Remove the boom, dodger, bimini, canvas and running rigging where practical.

  3. Lash the halyards

    Secure every halyard away from the mast so nothing can flog.

  4. Check ground tackle and lines

    Inspect mooring lines, chafe protection and the attachment points taking the load.

  5. Follow the published plan

    Act on the marina or cyclone-mooring lead time, not on the latest forecast.

  6. Inspect afterwards

    Treat a cyclone like any overload event and inspect the rig before sailing.

Key facts

Highest-value action
Removing headsails and furling sails completely
Classic failure
A furled headsail unrolling and taking the rig with it
Timing
Act on the published lead time, not on forecast confirmation
Afterwards
Inspect as you would after any overload event

Full background: read the guide

Primary sources

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