However, in heavy weather the situation is quite fluid, and flying can be extremely difficult and dangerous. Then you have the pilot's view of the situation below. In some cases the co-pilot or winch operator must talk the pilot into position and tell him or her when to dodge waves. Lifting off the Deck Helicopter rescue procedure varies with local standards, ambient conditions at the rescue site, the abilities of the helicopter and its crew, and the state of the ship's rigging. You should be wearing some form of thermal protection, depending on water temperature.
Wet suits are a minimum.
Dutch sail-training ship, Eendracht, suffered engine failure just after leaving Newhaven Harbor in the UK during a Force 8 gale. She was driven hard onto a sandbank, beam-on to the seas, and was being continuously assaulted by the waves. There were 51 people aboard at the time. After a commercial tug failed in its efforts to free her, the decision was made to try to winch the sail-training cadets and permanent crew of 17 off the forward deck, using Coast Guard helicopters from two nearby bases. There were two choppers involved in the rescue, which took turns hovering over the foredeck while they winched off the passengers and crew.