Rick, with regard to storm tips I miss the heaving-to.

In my experience the most easiest way to create calmness in heavy seas.
You can create heaving-to by letting go your mainsheet and forcing the jib to the other side with the jib-sheet.

Personaly I always jibe for that purpose and let the jib stay on the wrongside.
It has becoming my automatic rest-moment after each turn. ( I never tack!)