With winds reaching gale force relentlessly over the last few weeks, I can’t remember ever seeing the Solent looking so wild and so empty.

It feels like weeks since there has been any sailing activity on the water- apart from the few windsurfers enjoying the exhilaration of reaching in force 8 winds in the shallows of Stokes Bay.

I’ve searched all the weather sites I can find on the web for an explanation. What is going on?

Why are we experiencing storms associated with a 1000 year frequency?

Yes, we all know that the storms could well be associated with global warming, but what has happened to cause the UK to be hit by one Atlantic weather front after another?

We know that the position of the Azores High is crucial in determining whether we will be the victim of these fronts. In summer as it moves north so the fronts can be deflected further north and in winter as it retreats south (often to south of the Azores) then we are more susceptible.

But it’s currently in its correct position, if not even further north (currently over the Iberian Peninsula) so you would think these fronts would be passing to the north of the UK. Yet they are hitting us full on- why?

If anyone out there could provide some answers, it would be great to hear from you. I’m sure we’d all like to know what is going on.  If you know something we don’t (or would like to know more) then can you follow this link to the Dream or Two Forum and have your say! http://www.yachting-school.co.uk/forum/ and click into Skippers Blog