If you take 120 boats and launch them accross the Gulf Stream in November, you're going to get some grief.

They made what was (UPON retrospection) was clearly a bad bet. The Gulf Stream imposes some consequences for bad weather that are very punitive when the current and wind oppose one another -- and the warm water intensifies localized wind conditions.

As a number of you know, I have a close friend who has sailed back and forth each year from Long Island to St. Martens. He regularly sees pretty bad conditions and tries to avoid them. If you go this time of year, you get into some "tough stuff".

Earlier this month, for them, there were the assorted gails and banging around with the wind on the nose, etc -- but nothing that he called life threatening. However, his Amel 53, was diverted by a distress call and Coast Guard request to assist in a 39' Southern Cross that had to be abandoned because the captain apparently had a severe medical condtion. One of the freighters that arrived their before my friend, took the crew off and was trying to tow the boat [as salvage]. My friend said that the boat looked like it was in good shape, except for some rig damage, . He continued on towards St. Marten. A few hours later the freighter called him and said the line had parted and said if he wanted the Southern Cross, he could pick her up. My friend said that it would dark and too risky to try and pick the boat up in the dark and pretty bosterous sea conditions.