Drogue

A drogue (also known as a storm drogue) is a device trailed behind a boat on a long line attached to the stern. A drogue is used to slow the boat down in a storm and to prevent the hull from becoming side-on to the waves. A boat that has deployed a drogue should not overspeed down the slope of a wave and crash into the next one, nor will the vessel broach. By slowing the vessel, the drogue makes the vessel easier to control in heavy weather and will help to prevent pitchpoling.

A drogue works by providing substantial resistance when dragged through the water. An alternative device is the sea anchor, a much larger item than a drogue, which is streamed from the bows. The advantage of the sea anchor is that the bows of a yacht are invariably finer than the stern, thereby giving a safer and more comfortable experience in a storm. Both drogues and sea anchors will have "tripping lines" to aid recovery of the drogue after deployment.

An alternative procedure during a storm is simply to "heave to".