Incidently, I used to work on tankers in the North Atlantic trade. I've seen a few winter gales, including one where I thought we were lost for sure. I was off duty, so I chose to ride it out on the flying bridge and meet my fate head on. An amazing sensation really, seeing the bow go completely under with each wave, and not knowing if it would come back up, or whether that was my last moment on earth.

Been there, spent most of 30 years on the sea. These gales leave you somewhere between total exhilaration and mind numbing fear.