How can a wind gust cause dynamic capsizing?

In naval architecture, a wind gust can cause dynamic capsizing by acting as a sudden, transient force that imparts significant energy to a vessel. Unlike static stability, which considers equilibrium at a fixed angle, dynamic stability accounts for the energy required to rotate a ship to its point of vanishing stability.12

When a wind gust strikes, it creates an upsetting moment that forces the vessel to heel. If the energy delivered by this gust exceeds the ship's capacity to resist rotation—represented by the area under its statical stability curve—the vessel may be pushed beyond its maximum restoring moment and capsize. This is particularly hazardous for smaller vessels, which may already be experiencing large upsetting moments from other sources, such as heavy seas or the movement of heavy cargo. Consequently, safety standards for ship stability are often based on the total energy a vessel can absorb before reaching a critical angle of heel.12