  We present a model for steady state winds of systems with super-Eddington
luminosities. These radiatively driven winds are expected to be optically thick
and clumpy as they arise from an instability driven porous atmosphere. The
model is then applied to derive the mass loss observed in bright classical
novae. The main results are:
  1) A general relation between the mass loss rate and the total luminosity in
super-Eddington systems.
  2) A quantitative agreement between the observed luminosity evolution which
is used to predict both the mass loss and temperature evolution, and their
observations.
  3) An agreement between the predicted average integrated mass loss of novae
as a function of WD mass and its observations.
  4) A natural explanation for the `transition phase' of novae.
  5) Agreement with eta Carinae which was used to double check the theory. The
prediction for the mass shed in the star's great eruption agrees with
observations to within the measurement error.
