Boating and Sailing.pdf - Moja ladja

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Part 4: Nature’s Triple Play: Wind, Weather, and Tides
Lightning
Lightning is more dangerous than wind and waves for the inland and coastal boater,
because the wind and waves can readily be avoided by timing your crossings of open
water. Lightning, however, can arc across miles of open sky to deliver a knockout punch
to you and your boat while the sun still shines brightly overhead—it can leap many miles
from a distant thunderhead to strike.
I live in what is allegedly the lightning capital of the world, the Tampa Bay area, where we
have dozens of thunderstorms drifting over the peninsula daily in summer, and it’s an
unusual day when at least a distant rumble of thunder is not heard.
In fact, it’s a regular occurrence to experience the build-up of electrical charges on boat
and gear here, enough so that fishing lines and rods hum and crackle, hair stands straight
up, and metal objects deliver an electric shock. I’ve had it happen dozens of times, despite
the fact that I take care not to be out when the lightning starts to fly.
Look Out!
Any time lightning gets
remotely close to you—within
even five miles—head for the
marina!
The old rule about determining how far off lightning is
striking by counting the seconds and then dividing by
five does indeed give you the approximate mileage to
the last strike, but unless it’s more than five miles off,
you are not necessarily safe. With 30 million volts to
play with, nature can reach out and touch you at
remarkable distances.
There will be times when you get caught out in lightning, however. There’s no point trying
to run for cover once the bolts start to fly—chances are the storm will be over before
you can get there. Here’s what to do to ride out the storm:
◆ If you’re in a powerboat or sailboat that has a cabin, go below and keep your hands off
grounded metal objects, particularly the steering wheel.
◆ If you’re in an open powerboat or sailboat, try to make the boat’s profile as low as possible
by dropping radio antennas, fishing rods, and anything else projecting above the
gunnels. Stay as low as possible yourself, try to avoid touching anything that might
conduct electricity, and say a prayer or two if you’re so inclined.
Sailboats get struck by lightning with some frequency, but their masts are grounded
and conduct the charge into the water instantly, usually without injuring passengers.
(The fact that a mast is grounded doesn’t mean it won’t be damaged by a direct
strike, however.)