Sure, the sky in Northern Europe isn’t as sunny as in the Mediterranean, especially in the in‑between seasons like spring and autumn. But if I’m in those places with a sailboat, I have everything to gain in terms of wind: it stays steady in both direction and strength throughout the day, and under a high‑pressure system the night is calm. Yes, the currents are strong, and sometimes—even with all the sails up—you find yourself stuck at zero knots. But there are the tide tables, and after all there’s the change of direction that pushes the boat beyond what its sails can do.
