If you haven''t done it recently, why not take a few moments and locate your emergency tiller? Practice sticking it into the rudder post, or wherever it goes. Even better, try steering with it on the water.
This weekend, the steering cable on my Hunter 336 jumped off the sheaves (it probably needed tightening) just as we dropped the sails in 10 feet of water, a 23-knot breeze, and too near the rocks just south of Duck Island (LI Sound).
I had recently practiced with the tiller, knew right where it was, and had the boat back under control in about 30 seconds. I had to steer back to my slip with my legs and made a safe, albeit ungraceful docking.
While you''re at it, find the manual bilge
pump handle and practice with that, too.