Anyone fancy a thunderstorn whilst at sea!

[lenseman]

I have attached a photograph taken from Paul Hardaker's video.

He was on passage between Haslar Marina and Premier Brighton on the 28th June and in the afternoon when he was about 4 hours out from Brighton, he was caught out in a fairly intense thunderstorm.

Whilst he was videoing, this leader started from the starboard main winch in the cockpit and was followed immediately by an enormous BANG!

He is one very lucky young man.

There was a young man called Paul,
Whose mast was exceedingly tall,
Whilst on passage to Brighton
This storm did a-frighten
and THAT was a very close call.

For information Paul is sailing round the UK for the Crohn's and Colitis Charity and could do with all the help and donations he can get.

This morning he left Brighton on route for Eastbourne. If you see him, or his yacht Zuma, go and say hello and visit his web-site where you might possibly like to leave a donation?

http://www.paulhardakersailing.co.uk/

and then read the blog at which includes the video (Leg 14 - Hamble River to Brighton via Portsmouth) look out at 4:12 seconds.

http://www.zuma-paul.blogspot.com/

or YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQPoCbtMjYY&feature=player_embedded#at=254

ps: The Africa Grey is delightful and will chatter away if you visit.

 

[jonic]

My biggest fear at sea was thunderstorms.

Here's a video of one that passed over us whilst moored off New York.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PRS_7wckZdc

The boat next to us was struck and lost all electrics.

Listen to the weather warning being broadcast on the VHF at the beginning, then watch for the lightning strikes on the buildings, the helicopter that turns and gets the h*ll out of it and the the moment our RIB is picked out of the water by the wind and pinned against the stanchions. (Between 1min and 1min 40).

It was a short but intense storm and we later found out that it blew down over 100 trees in central park.

 

[capnsensible]

I reckon thunderstorms are the worst of the weather experiences at sea. The lightning is just so random there is nothing you can do, even as a placebo. In big winds at least there are things you can try.

Have had several close encounters around the Atlantic and remain underwhelmed!

 

[TQA]

Was on my steel boat at anchor in North Carolina when I was hit. I was down below and the cabin went all blue and fuzzy for a second. I was deaf for a day, some electrical and electronic damage and all my compasses were useless as the hulll was magnetized STRONGLY. At one point a spanner could be parked on a vertical surface.

Very scary.

In that part of the world afternoon thunderstorms are a daily summer occurence.

 

[dylanwinter]

filmed at anchor

there are times when having a short mast and a plastic boat can be most re-assuring

this one grounded just a few yards from the slug though

http://www.keepturningleft.co.uk/2009-season/storm-in-west-mersea/

Dylan

 

[Robin]

We just bought our new to us boat in Florida and are staying in a beach condo in Daytona Beach, commuting to the boat in St Augustine whilst we had surveys and sea trials done etc. The afternoon summer thunderstorms here are spectacular, even by USA standards as is the rain that goes with them, good news they douse the wildfires (it has been really dry) bad news the strikes spark off more fires. Then again on the news a 10ft 'gator just ate a labrador by sombody's pool ........eeeeeek!

 

[Blueboatman]

If ever there was a single force that could ''simplify''sailing back to the dark 'ol days of sextant, log line, dead reckoning and fingers crossed navigation, tis but one lightning strike away!

I hate them, will turn the boat around and sail off in another direction if I thought it might help!

 

[satsuma]

I got "caught" between what looked like 3 thunderstorms while crossing from Menorca to Sardegna. Forked lightening ahead and to the stern, either side!! coupled with the f6 and rough sea, it was probably the least liked moment I can remember!
Nothing to do but trail some jump leads from the shrouds to the water, and start the engine and leave it running!
High winds and sea are one thing, but sitting and waiting for lightening is a very uncomfortable feeling!

 

[Porthandbuoy]

Got caught by a thunderstorm in my cat coming back from a smuggling trip from Pantelleria to Monastir several years ago. PBO published my story in one of their 'Lessons Learned' articles. I can tell you I'll never, ever, sail so casually towards one of these things again. I nearly lost a ton and a half of booze, and my cat, and damn nearly my life.

 

[VO5]

Was on my steel boat at anchor in North Carolina when I was hit. I was down below and the cabin went all blue and fuzzy for a second. I was deaf for a day, some electrical and electronic damage and all my compasses were useless as the hulll was magnetized STRONGLY. At one point a spanner could be parked on a vertical surface.

Very scary.

In that part of the world afternoon thunderstorms are a daily summer occurence.

Yes, that area round there certainly brews up some nasties.
You get these sudden storms that blow up with wind gusts of up to 60 knots accompanied by heavy rain and thunder and lightning all around. Thankfully, they don't last long but very unpleasant if you get caught in one.

Usually they are preceded by heat and then these awful rolls of dark grey clouds come rolling along and before you know it, you're in it.

 

[Ex-SolentBoy]

Nothing to do but trail some jump leads from the shrouds to the water, and start the engine and leave it running

Interesting idea. Is this something you heard of, or have seen work?

Anyone else ever heard of this?

 

[Seajet]

I have a chain, shrink-sleeved to save bashing the topsides, with a snap-shackle to latch onto the shroud chainplates.

However, I'm yet to be convinced whether I'm attracting lighning rather than seeking to conduct it, and not sure about the resistance of the chain & shackle creating a 'spark plug' effect either !

I have been 'deeply impressed' by a few thunderstorms at sea, I must confess in one nasty little event in the Eastern Solent I did go up alongside a larger boat with a taller mast; if I'd got hit it would have served me right, but let's be honest, I was scared Far****less...

Dylan may be deluding himself as I was though; at my club a wooden boat was hit by lightning on her mooring, blowing a plank out of her side; she had one of the shortest, wooden masts in the club, surrounded by much taller alloy ones.

Had another time in mid-Channel with a lightning storm approaching, we ( both teenagers ) tried to outrun it which of course was futile, then with lightning hitting the water around us my trusty crew said " It's only a matter of time, isn't it ?! " and we inflated the dinghy...Obviously we never got hit, but I think 2 points are going unremarked here; there's often very bad visibility even long after electrical storms, also lightning strikes on boats have been known to blow the seacocks out, which sounds like the recipe for a bad day to me !

I agree with previous posters, more frightening than a gale.

 

[satsuma]

Interesting idea. Is this something you heard of, or have seen work?

Anyone else ever heard of this?

There was an article (PBO) roughly 2008/2009 from a couple in the solent that had been struck by lightening.
My recollection was they suggested doing both these things (start engine & trail an earth) The engine start is due to the likelihood of blowing the batteries (and thereafter not starting the engine), the trailing earth I think is more a "hope" that the lightening if it strikes, then finds the shortest path, or at least an alternative of least resistance.
When the lightening got close, I do recall "shrinking" from anything metal!

 

[HinewaisMan]

We were a 300 odd miles NE of Singapore, weaving our way through the shipping who were either leaving or preparing for the TSS.

A couple of thunderstorm cells went over us – not nice, horizontal firehose rain, 50kts, strobe lightning – a sea-strike very very near by knocked out our AIS – I had my arms wrapped around the main mast at the time trying to tie down our poles which had broken loose and were threatening to either wreak themselves or trash the granny bars.

Thankfully, we carry a good supply of clean underwear.

SWMBO had already gone into lightning mode – laptop and handheld VHF and GPS had been wrapped in tin foil (Faraday Cage), stuck in the oven (Faraday Cage) inside our steel boat (Faraday Cage)

Then the radar showed a few more cells NE of us – the start of a conveyer belt of thunderstorms that went on for 24 hours.

And the radar couldn’t see all the big ships in the rain – note how there are no MARPA contacts around the blobs – and for what MARPA was worth - cos we were bouncing around so much, it only gave an idea on direction but was well confused on speed.

Oh, frabjous days.
View attachment 12403

 

[Babylon]

For information Paul is sailing round the UK for the Crohn's and Colitis Charity and could do with all the help and donations he can get.

This morning he left Brighton on route for Eastbourne. If you see him, or his yacht Zuma, go and say hello and visit his web-site where you might possibly like to leave a donation?

http://www.paulhardakersailing.co.uk/

Donated.

My sister and nephew both carry the genes and suffer. The husband of an old friend also suffers terribly - he has also lost all sense of taste and smell - and there is a limit to how much stomach can be surgically removed.

 

[Carolwildbird]

Both times I've crossed between sardinia and the balearic, I've been surrounded by storms. I find it very scary.

So what's any more practical advice? I put my hand held Gps and VHf in the oven (someone told me it acted as a faraday cage?), take down sails or reef heavily (having known two people have their sails blown out in the sudden squalls on the thunderstorm front) and put the engine on.. and try to second guess where the storms are heading and avoid them.

Can we have a YBW crash test boat article.....

 

[Angele]

the trailing earth I think is more a "hope" that the lightening if it strikes, then finds the shortest path, or at least an alternative of least resistance.

The principal aim of a lightening conductor is not, despite the name, to conduct electricity away. It is instead, to remove any electrical charge that the high point may have that means lightening might be more likely to hit that point.

3 or 4 years ago, got encircled by a lightening storm a few miles after having left the Needles on the way across the Channel. Nothing else around, just us. Lightening flashes in front, to the left, to the right. Only option was to pop down below and make a nice hot cuppa for the crew!

 

[Seajet]

The principal aim of a lightening conductor is not, despite the name, to conduct electricity away. It is instead, to remove any electrical charge that the high point may have that means lightening might be more likely to hit that point.

3 or 4 years ago, got encircled by a lightening storm a few miles after having left the Needles on the way across the Channel. Nothing else around, just us. Lightening flashes in front, to the left, to the right. Only option was to pop down below and make a nice hot cuppa for the crew!

When a very similar situation happened to me, my now understandably ex-wife ******* off below and left me to it !

 

[northwind]

The house next to my in-laws was hit by lightning last week and burnt down.

Contrary to popular belief the lightning hit the wall, not the TV aerial or satellite dish.

The EF fallout has taken out most of the TV's in the street and also the telephones too. Nasty stuff lightning!

 

[Elessar]

The principal aim of a lightening conductor is not, despite the name, to conduct electricity away. It is instead, to remove any electrical charge that the high point may have that means lightening might be more likely to hit that point.

quite right. And people will even call you wrong! Thus it is very unlikely to strike a tv aerial.

BTW Foxy of this forum was struck off the coast of spain/portugal. He's busy at the mo so may not see this but if he pops in to tell the tale it makes your hairs stand on end..........