On 2 November 1995 a Mistral storm in the Gulf of Lions sank the 16 metre yacht Parsifal claiming six lives out of the nine member crew. We analyse the storm with different meteorological and wave models, verifying the results against the available buoy and satellite measurements. Then we consider the accuracy of the storm forecasts and the information available the days before the accident. The limitations related to the resolution of the meteorological models are explored by hindcasting the storm also with the winds produced by some limited area models. Finally, we discuss the present situation of wind and wave hindcast and forecast in theMediterranean Sea, and the distribution of these results to the public
