I thought the Med had good weather!

[jonic]

Some of the worst extreme and "sudden change" weather I have experienced has been in the Med in the summer. One evening whilst anchored peacefully in the natural harbour of Soller in Mallorca, all hell broke loose sending boats dragging all over the place when 60kts of wind fell off the top of the mountain and into the anchorage. It was so warm it felt like a hair dyer was blowing in your face. Apparently it's a very localised phenomenon caused by the mountains giving up their heat in the evening.

 

[Chris_Robb]

Heard from the Robbster today. Still in Marseilles, in the rain.

Off to day to Corsica, Suns out at the moment, filling up with water - done the washing and await crew - there was a rumour that southern European flights would be cancelled due to that damn volcano - but sleazy jet has no mention on the web site, so fingers crossed!

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

I have seen more stormy seas in Greece than in UK. Also because the Med is very deep, the wave mass gains momentum with enormous energy when hit the coast. I remember in the early 70's in Saronic Gulf in Greece, a few miles of deep water shear drop rocky coast which I used to dive, it was transformed, during an overnight violent storm, into a wonderful sandy beach which is still there today; (the beach was so nice, you even have to pay to use it from then on; the beach is still there today)

 

[AntarcticPilot]

Don't forget malaria tablets and mosquito nets!

Not to mention Yellow Fever vaccination! It is endemic in West Africa, and is required on flights to the Falklands, where the alternates in case they can't make the refuelling stop at Ascension Island are all in West Africa.