Well, it used to be that ships would have a mast, and would mount large cloth sails to them to catch the breeze. You could easily be surprised and accelerate violently in a strong wind. Stopping was as tough as you imply- you can furl up the sails, or you can throw down an anchor, or bank as sudden as is safe, but that's about all.

By the time I was a sailor it was engines and propellers, of course, but you couldn't be around the docks without knowing the basics.