Well like it they did, and when they returned home, they sold their house and are now on their way to the Mediterranean with Irene VL . We re sure they ll like it there too. Sailors must make their own decisions. Also, you must decide whether to hop between numerous secure ports or head well offshore. Bordered on the north by Cape Finisterre and the infamous Bay of Biscay, Spain and Portugal s west coast can really rock and roll in the fall.
Many delightful coasts can turn into nightmares even in minor blows.
Shoals, tidal flows and strong currents, unforgiving steep cliffs, and outflowing rivers conjure very nasty seas and risky port entry. In a blow, you must avoid banks or shelves that rise from great depths, fast currents running against the wind, and shallows. Remain snug in harbor or allow for the normal direction of storm winds and your boat s capabilities so you can reach and remain in deep, stable water. Obviously, if the storm will blow offshore, there s little risk of being driven ashore, and you may gain some protection from land. Able to heave to or lay to a sea anchor, you ll likely cut leeward drift to a half-knot or less, reducing your probable storm drift in an undesirable direction to less than 100 miles in a few days.