Ahh, don't speak nonsense mate. That is not what we are saying. We are only saying that you weren't sailing in 80 to 100 knots winds. Like the other poster said, there may have been that windspeed some 10 miles away but not were you were sailing.

I know some people survived pretty horrendous conditions but your claims are just beyond that.

I even don't doubt that you yourself honestly believe that you did sail in that. Problem is only that it is physically impossible to sail in that in any meaning full way without totally wrecking your sails, mast and what not else. Note that each sq. mtr of cloth in 80 knots wind can pull with 80 kg compared to ONLY 5 kg in 20 knots. The cloth will just rip itself apart and even the bare mast is in danger of collapsing to such abuse. Monohulls will capize under their mast alone (as happened in the Sidney Hobart you mention), catamarans and dinghies will roll along on the watersurface.

Sorry.

Wouter