In essence its one or two ways to deal with weather too rough to sail through or dangerous to handle. Would need more of the quote to help more.

The key is that you haul in all sails or just let the sheets go(the ropes with control tension on them to the bottom to catch wind) letting them flap.

The one option once this is done while you are a bit closer to the source of wind than perpendicular, and could also be paired with fixing or holding the rudder so its trying to turn you into the wind.

This means you in essence arent being pushed by the wind, but are hopefully not stuck broadside taking the waves from the worst spot possible. That is generally termed Lying Ahull.

You can also Lay too with a sea anchor. In essence an achor not meant to grip the bottom but to cause enough resistance in the water where it pulls the bow on the ship to windward(where the wind is coming from) so it should stay in roughly the same place or drift slowly, while taking the wind and waves from the bow more safely.