After more than 40 years of sailing in different parts of the world, I thought I had developed a sound routine for interpreting weather forecasts before and during a passage. Like many experienced sailors, I would carefully examine the wind forecast, pressure systems, expected gusts and sea state before deciding whether to sail, where to anchor, or when to seek shelter.
Then, on a summer passage to Venice, I learned the important lesson that Adriatic weather can surprise experienced sailors...