"Batten down the hatches and take in the sails!"

Securing the ship: In addition to managing sails, ships would "batten down the hatches." This term originated in the navy, where it signified preparing for a storm by fastening down canvas over doorways and hatches (openings) with strips of wood called battens. They would also secure guns and gunports, and stow any loose items to prevent them from shifting and causing damage.

Taking in Sails: As the storm intensified, more sails would be taken in completely, until only a few, small sails might be used to maintain steerage.

Reefing: Ships would first "reef" their sails, meaning they would shorten them by partially furling them up, reducing the surface area exposed to the wind.

Bare Poles: In the most severe storms, ships might resort to "running before the wind" with bare poles, meaning all sails were lowered, and the ship was steered downwind to try and outrun the storm.