Just to get this thread back on track a bit with some comments I expect you
will agree with:

The original question was the suitability of a then hypothetical 28 foot
boat for offshore conditions. Not to diminish the exemplary seamanship
demonstrated by Salty while facing the terror of some of the most dangerous
waters on earth, but, wind velocity is not the most significant danger
factor at sea. The low death rate on LIS and the fact that special types of
vessel have not been developed to deal with these horrendous conditions is
some evidence of that.

Vessels in heavy weather are generally worn down. Repeated stesses and
continued violent motion expose the weak points in rig, structure, and
systems. Fatigue sets in and the crew makes mistakes. Waves continue to
build Simply the length of exposure greatly increases the statistical
probability of encountering a freak or oddly shaped wave that rolls the
vessel or boards heavily. Three days of 30 - 40 knot winds can be far more
dangerous than half an hour of twice the velocity and four times the force
in previously normal conditions.

It takes a lot more vessel and crew capability to handle the grinding
stresses of weather that can be encountered on passages than even violent
squalls.

--
Roger Long