Taming the Tempest: Your Guide to the Jordan Series Drogue
Key Takeaways...
The Jordan Series Drogue (JSD) is a premier heavy-weather survival tool designed to prevent sailboat capsize by providing constant, distributed drag. Its unique multi-cone design eliminates dangerous shock loads and prevents a vessel from accelerating uncontrollably down the face of a breaking wave. For the system to work safely, the boat must be in a "passive" state: all sails lowered, the engine off, and the rudder securely locked in the centre position.
Table of Contents
The Jordan Series DrogueSailors are always chasing fair winds and calm seas. However, the ocean does not always play along. Every serious cruiser eventually faces genuinely nasty weather, where waves are no longer playful bumps but real monsters set on damaging your boat and crew. In these moments, having a reliable heavy-weather strategy is a game-changer. For many, that strategy is built around the Jordan Series Drogue.
You have likely heard of sea anchors and drogues. While both slow a boat, they serve different roles. A sea anchor is deployed from the bow to hold the boat head-to-wind. A drogue, conversely, streams from the stern, allowing the boat to run with the waves at a controlled speed. The Jordan Series Drogue, or JSD, has earned an almost legendary reputation for handling the most extreme conditions the ocean can dish out.
Why the Jordan Series Drogue Stands Out
The JSD is not a single large parachute. It consists of a long line, often 100 to 200 metres in length, dotted with 100 to 200 small, five-inch diameter cones. A weight—typically a chain of 7 to 11 kg—is attached to the end to keep the line submerged. This multi-cone design was developed by aeronautical engineer Don Jordan following the 1979 Fastnet Race disaster.
Traditional drogues often fill with water and then collapse, creating jerky, "snatching" loads that can lead to mechanical failure. The series drogue ensures there is always a consistent drag force. Think of it as a hundred little hands constantly gripping the water, spreading the load and preventing the shock loads that can rip deck fittings straight out of the glass fibre.
Sizing the Drogue to Your Vessel
A critical part of storm tactics is ensuring your gear is engineered for your boat's weight. A drogue that is too small will not prevent dangerous acceleration; one that is too large may put excessive strain on your transom.
| Displacement (lbs) | Displacement (kg) | Approx. No. Cones | Line Diameter (mm & inch) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 10,000 | Up to 4,535 | 100 | 12mm (1/2") |
| 15,000 | 6,804 | 120 | 14mm (9/16") |
| 20,000 | 9,072 | 134 | 16mm (5/8") |
| 25,000 | 11,340 | 148 | 18mm (3/4") |
| 30,000 | 13,608 | 162 | 18mm (3/4") |
| 45,000 | 20,412 | 198 | 22mm (7/8") |
| 60,000 | 27,216 | 230 | 25mm (1") |
Configuration: Preparing the Boat
For the Jordan Series Drogue to function as a survival tool, the crew must commit to a passive configuration. This allows the engineering of the drogue to handle the ocean's energy without human or mechanical interference.
Sails and Tactics
All sails must be lowered and securely stowed. Leaving even a scrap of sail up introduces wind forces that cause the boat to "yaw" (swing side-to-side), which puts uneven loads on the bridle. This is not the time for heaving-to, which is a tactic for moderate gales. The JSD is for survival conditions where you must run with the storm.
Hands Off the Helm
Once the JSD is set, you stop steering entirely.
- The Rudder: Centre the rudder and lock it firmly. Use the wheel brake and backup lashings, or a robust tiller-tamer. A loose rudder can be slammed side-to-side by waves, snapping steering cables or the rudder stock.
- Autohelms and Windvanes: Disconnect and stow these units. Breaking waves from astern can easily snap a windvane blade or burn out an autopilot drive unit. The drogue provides all the directional stability your boat needs.
Installation & Transom Reinforcement
The forces exerted by a JSD can reach thousands of kilograms. Your attachment points are paramount.
- Reinforcement: Standard mooring cleats are rarely sufficient. If you cannot hang your boat from the attachment points, they are not strong enough. Use dedicated heavy-duty padeyes or chainplates, through-bolted with massive backing plates.
- The Bridle: Each leg of the V-bridle should be approximately 2.5 times the width of the transom. This ensures the stern rises quickly to steep seas, preventing the boat from being "pooped."
- Hardware & Chafe: Use stainless steel thimbles in eye splices and ensure all shackles are moused (secured with wire). Eliminate all chafe points where the bridle exits fairleads by using heavy-duty chafe gear.
Deployment & Retrieval
One of the JSD's design goals is one-handed deployment from the cockpit. Store the drogue flaked into a launch bag with the bridle ready to be shackled on. To deploy, drop the chain weight overboard and the cones will feed out gradually.
Retrieval is the labour-intensive part. It is not a quick hand-over-hand job; you will need to use your largest cockpit winches to bring the line in bit by bit. Practice is key—deploying and retrieving the Jordan Series Drogue in calm conditions ensures your crew is ready when it matters most.
Real-World Perspectives
The Jordan Series Drogue has a proven track record. Sailors have reported riding out 50-knot gales with a steady, controlled motion, making approximately 2 knots. While a new system can cost over £800 ($1,000 USD) and requires significant installation work, it is often viewed as essential safety equipment, much like a liferaft.
It is generally intended for well-found, blue-water cruising boats rather than daysailers. For the offshore sailor, it represents the ultimate insurance policy, allowing the vessel to safely dance with the waves rather than fighting them head-on.
Summing Up
The Jordan Series Drogue represents a final, critical step in a comprehensive heavy weather strategy. By utilizing a series of small cones to manage the energy of breaking waves, it offers a level of passive protection that steering or heaving-to cannot match. Successful implementation requires meticulous sizing, reinforced attachment points, and the discipline to lower all sails and lock the helm. It is a powerful tool that transforms a survival situation into a manageable event.
The Jordan Drogue is one of the final steps in a heavy weather strategy, which begins with getting to grips with how to correctly and safely reef your sails, a topic we explore in our comprehensive guide, Reefing a Sail: The Ultimate Guide to Control & Safety at Sea.
This article was written by Dick McClary, RYA Yachtmaster and author of the RYA publications 'Offshore Sailing' and 'Fishing Afloat', member of The Yachting Journalists Association (YJA), and erstwhile member of the Ocean Cruising Club (OCC).
Frequently Asked Questions
How many cones do I need for my specific boat?
How many cones do I need for my specific boat?
The number of cones is determined by the displacement of your yacht. For a standard monohull of 20,000 lbs, you would typically require 116 cones. Multihulls generally require about 20% to 30% more cones because they have less hull depth and are more prone to being moved by the wind and surface water.
Where should the bridle be attached?
Where should the bridle be attached?
The bridle should be attached to two heavily reinforced points on the quarters of the transom. Because the loads can reach the equivalent of the boat's displacement in a breaking wave, standard mooring cleats are often insufficient. Most sailors install dedicated stainless steel chainplates backed by large plates on the interior of the hull to distribute the force.
How do I retrieve the drogue after the storm has passed?
How do I retrieve the drogue after the storm has passed?
Retrieval is the most challenging aspect of using a JSD. The most common method involves using a rolling hitch to attach a retrieval line to the drogue and then winching it in slowly. Alternatively, some sailors lead a "recovery line" from the end of the bridle to the bow. By releasing the bridle from the stern and winching the recovery line from the bow, the boat turns 180 degrees, and the drogue can be hauled in using the anchor windlass.
Is it safe for the rudder to have the waves hitting the stern?
Is it safe for the rudder to have the waves hitting the stern?
Yes. One of the primary advantages of the JSD is that it keeps the boat moving forward at a very slow pace. This ensures that the water is always flowing past the rudder from front to back, which prevents the "back-down" forces that often break rudders when using a sea anchor from the bow.
What should I use for the weight at the end of the line?
What should I use for the weight at the end of the line?
A length of heavy galvanised chain or a small mushroom anchor is typically used. The purpose of this weight is to keep the tail of the drogue submerged. If the end of the line skips along the surface, the cones may not fill properly, and the drogue could lose its effectiveness.
Can I make my own Jordan Series Drogue?
Can I make my own Jordan Series Drogue?
Yes, many sailors choose to purchase kits that include the pre-cut fabric for the cones and the specific rope required. However, the sewing is time-consuming, as each cone must be securely stitched to the line. Ensuring that the materials are UV-resistant and high-strength is critical for the system's reliability.
What if I need to cut the drogue loose quickly?
What if I need to cut the drogue loose quickly?
Always keep a sharp, serrated knife or a dedicated safety cutter near the attachment points. If you must manoeuvre to avoid a hazard, you may need to ditch the bridle.
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