Whoa! Oh, no! Those words, and probably a few expletives, leave your lips as a tempest arrives, seemingly out of nowhere. The rain is pelting, the wind is ferocious, and the swelling waves are anything but swell. You know what you have to do, skipper? Keep your cool and keep all aboard safe.

Though you’re acting cool, your words must be commanding. Loudly direct everyone to pay attention, put on their life jackets (and harness up, if applicable), and follow your orders.

While you maintain control of the vessel, instruct crew and passengers to secure or stow everything that can become a projectile, from flapping awnings to coolers. Warning: If the storm involves lightning, no one should touch anything metal.

Find out what’s going on by listening to local talk on the VHF — what are other boaters seeing and experiencing? Tune into the marine forecast to find out whether this squall is passing or worsening in order to decide if you’ll shelter in place or seek a safe harbor (remember, “any port in a storm” is not just a cliché).

If you’re heading in, radio ahead to let them know you’re coming.  If it’s not a dock you know well, ask for guidance on where the most accessible and safest place is to tie up.

Should the risks of reaching land outweigh the peril of staying on the water, take up the nearest unoccupied mooring, attaching it to your bow. Or throw out an anchor if you’re not in a mooring field. Broadcast to other boaters you’ve anchored and keep ringing your bell and/or blowing your horn to warn other boaters you are in the vicinity. Let the people holding your float plan know you’re safe but stalled, or activate your U.S. Coast Guard mobile app http://uscgboating.org/mobile/. Should a risk to people or your vessel’s seaworthiness arise, immediately reach out to the authorities.