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This blog entry is for everyone who thinks it is sunny and warm in the Med in Winter, I have come across and spoken to many people who believe that cruising in the Med in Winter is better than England, but the reality is that the only difference is that it is possibly a few degrees warmer in some countries. The storms can be far worse than in England and very dangerous or uncomfortable for us cruising sailors!

Last night we had a Northwesterly hurricane Force 12!!!

Last night all boat owners were re-enforcing their warps and anti-chafing hoses, adding fenders to their boats and then settled in for a wild night. In typical cruising tradition, I made sure my boat was ok and went to dinner on another yacht and then battled back to my rocking and rolling boat to wait out the storm. NO sleep all night, you just lay there waiting for the unusual noise which tells you something has happened to your boat that shouldn’t have!! Everyone sleeps in the next day, when the weather has calmed down and then gets up and re-checks all fenders and warps!!

No damage!! Phew!! But we have to go through it all again tomorrow as the same weather is forecast again for Sunday! Bummer!! In fact, the forecast is slightly worse!! We have had ice and hail stones so thick it looks like snow, tons of rain and a the top of everyone’s shopping list is a new heater and dehumidifier to cope with condensation.

So, if you thought it would be sunny and warm here in Portugal or Spain at this time of the year, think again!

Hope the weather is better where you are!