Connie, I stand corrected and a humble apology to all for being generic with the term "heave to". For those who don't know, it is technically defined as using sails or motor to keep the bow into the wind…however, the term is most commonly used by cruising folks as keeping the bow into the wind under any method. With that said, on small boats, sails and a lashed tiller WON'T always work or "calm" it down when the seas get huge and the wind is piping. Thinking otherwise could be bad for your health. A drogue off the bow can do a lot to help at this point. I kept up with Roth's travels for years and read most, if not all, of the books published. His adventures are interesting and fun reading. If you read other pubs (before and after Roth's time) they reflect the same seamanship methods. Roth is surely competent but don't forget he drug anchor for about 10 miles one night from choosing the wrong anchor (Exmua Islands, Bahamas - CQR plow). He was lucky it drug away from land or the boat would have been lost. Even Hal makes mistakes. Bill