On Dec 12, 12:50*pm, Nick wrote:
If anyone could explain to me what happened in 1981 which was worse
than the October 1987 storm, I'd be most grateful because apparently I
missed it ;-)

Nick

Penlee (Mousehole) lifeboat sank in F11 gale. F12 over the sea
http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/d...00/2539173.stm
I believe all the creew were from Mousehole which is a village. Only 1
person from each family was allowed on the lifeboat. I can highly
recommend
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Penlee-Loss-...3696579&sr=1-1
which gives a gripping & chilling account from someone close to the
disaster.

Only once since ( 2004 http://www.turnstone-cottage.co.uk/PzStorm.PDF
) have sea conditions been remotely like it in Mount's Bay, though
wind speeds were far less. The highest wind speeds since were probably
in March 2008.

There is a memorial near the old lifeboat house.

Yes, in mean wind speeds over land, it was worse than the 1987 storm.
I don't know if anyone has the Gwennap Head data, but I know locally
gusts exceeded 100mph.

Graham
Penzance