Are you adept at heaving to when you have to? Or only know the theory but haven't practiced it in your own sailboat? Or maybe don't even know how to do it at all? Fall is a good time, if you're still sailing, to get in some practice next time you're on the water. Often the winds are getting up more in the fall, and that's a good time to learn or practice how to heave to. You never know when suddenly you may need to stop the boat under sail in a calm position to attend to a problem that takes you away from the helm - or an emergency or storm. Heaving to is often your best solution, and every sailor should know how to do it.
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