1. If any terms dont make sense, just ask and I'll try to explain them.
On a sailing ship a good master will take down as much sail as they can while still being able to maintain control. Its just a matter of practicality because high variable winds will rip sails to shreds. You try to point the bow of the ship into the sea state in really rough seas but that isnt always possible. In bad seas the other option is riding in the trough which can be horrible. A ship responds to two axis Pitch which is up and down motion (from stem to stern) and Roll which is side to side motion. The ideal way to point the vessel is to angle it at a wave getting a decent amount of pitch and roll. Rather than go perpindicular or parallel to the wave. Obviously parallel is a bad choice if the seas are really rough, if the decks are awash for instance, but it is easier to keep on course with beam seas. Its a gamble really, survivability vs destination.
Remember that before the storm theres a huge amount of activity from the crew. Battenning down everything that could possibly move paint, stores, the smallest thing can become a hazard when your pitching or rolling 40+ degrees. Any open hatch or door needs to be tightly closed to prevent flooding, but this is more important on a metal ship.
Sometimes even bolting stuff to the deck isn't enough. One day in a noreaster a 500 pound safe welded to the floor in the radio room broke free and went sliding around crushing everything in its way. Bookshelves broke free and desks bolted down broke loose. I helped lead a party to retie down a rescue bin that broke loose on top of our bridge. It nearly killed all of us and knocked a flare launcher overboard. Dont underestimate "gear adrift"
Fires and lanterns need to be put out, storm lines put on deck so that crewmembers can safely move back and forth with something to hold onto.
Also Remember since its a rolling motion the range of the roll or pitch is double( ie a 40 degree roll is actually 80 degrees), and very surreal (imagine you walls becoming your floor).
