David,
I would not go to sea without a proper storm jib. Mine has a "wraparound" luff, where the sail goes round the rolled up foresail and hanks back on to itself, with only about 3 or 4 hanks. I hoist it on the spinnaker halyard. No luff tension is needed as its supported over the whole luff length. Its made by Hyde.
Clawing off a lee shore with ones roller in tatters or disabled would be very difficult without a storm jib IMHO.
John.
275/30 "Cascada"