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Ridin' the storm out (boats & lightning) (1 Viewer)

Matt Stryker

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The guidelines we used when I taught small boat sailing (I think they may be from the US Sailing manual, but not sure):

1) Try to make your destination
2) Try to make the nearest shore, anchor and wait it out (onshore)
3) Drop the mast and begin serious bargaining with your supreme being of choice.

I never had to do #3, although there were at least 2 dozen times when I seriously considered it - we only sailed stuff without motors, so dropping the mast in the middle of a 5+ mile wide river meant drifting until you could re-step it or get help. I did get shocked mildly a few times from nearby strikes coming up through the rudder/tiller assembly into my hand, enough to numb it. Lightning is no fun in small boats, especially when you are driving the safety boat responsible for 16 other kids in Sunfish.

There are a number of tricks for picking up the right moment to run for cover, including watching for windshifts and even using an AM radio tuned to a known station to listen for static indicating a coming cell. I think Chapman's has a good list???
 

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