The storm hit, so the crew went to bare poles.
bare poles
idiomThe condition of a sailing boat when all of its sails have been taken in.
With the wind gusting at fifty knots, the captain ordered the crew to go to bare poles to avoid capsizing.
As the tempest raged and the mainsail threatened to split, the seasoned skipper commanded the vessel to bare poles, trusting only the engine to carry them through the maelstrom.