—Not really. In the Days of Sail, ships would “reef their sails”, taking-in canvas so as to limit the dangerous effects of high wind gusts that might damage or roll a ship. It’s the same principle, really.—
But the sailors didn’t completely remove the sails. When the wind turbines are stopped, the blades are feathered. Why can’t they just partially feather them for high wind? That’s why I thought it was “stupid” to just turn them off if the wind is high.
Regarding the ships, I assume that is why they have those horizontal rows of string in the sails every few vertical feet.
They would vary the pitch of the wind mill blades according to the wind-speed, but that would be affective only up to a certain point and then they’d have to lock the rotor down.
Regarding the sailing ships: in very high winds you might see all the square sails furled and only the jib sheets and a stern lanteen mast rigged to maintain some directional control.