Lightening - pretty scary

[Santana379]

Just returned from the Netherlands Friday/Saturday in Santana, Middelharnis (by way of Stellendam) to the Orwell.

This side of the TSS after midnight, bound for North Shipwash, we encountered a storm the like of which I hope I never experience again at sea. There were between 3 and 4 hours of lightening, sheet and fork, initially to the south of us, and then overhead, before passing north.

On one occasion there eight forked lightening bolts visible at the same time. We felt utterly helpless, and just hoped the lightening would not find our mast, which fortunately it didn't.

The wind became pretty variable, but did not exceed 35kts at any point, and there was hardly any rain at all. There were brief moments of very hot air indeed, almost tropical.

It felt at times like we were in a disaster movie! I will long remember the sight of my somewhat better half at the mast as the boat lurched every which way, lit up by lightening behind her. (I wasn't just watching, but was trying manfully to hold the boat upwind in the very sloppy conditions.)

I'm not sure we could have done anything much to improve our situation, apart from turning into the wind and heading back towards the Netherlands at full battle speed.

To add to our misery the heads had developed an as yet unresolved fault, and we had to resort to bucket and chuck it for the passage.

Very glad to be back!

 

[Cantata]

Rather you than me, and pleased to hear you came through it unscathed.
Back home at Herne Bay yesterday after a long East Coast cruise (noted Santana's absence as well) I got up at 2am for the usual reason and realised there was almost continuous lightning, but no rain and could barely hear the thunder, it was so far away.

 

[Boz]

Same experience in North Fambridge, except the lighting has a choice of Masts in the Marina... fortunately no damage. Lightning is a particular dread of mine after an unfortunate event off Sardinia a long time ago...... and it keeps her indoors awake and consequently me

 

[Serin]

I'm not sure we could have done anything much to improve our situation, apart from turning into the wind and heading back towards the Netherlands at full battle speed.

Glad you came through it OK.

I presume you and others here know about things like unplugging all the electrics? We were glad that we had done that many years ago when we were struck. Just coming into anchor in the Pyefleet at about midnight after a rough passage across the estuary when there was a mighty crash and simultaneous flash - both about the intensity you might expect at the end of the world - and a sizzling sound. A Dutch sailor anchored nearby called over to ask if we were OK as he had seen the lighting strike our mast. In fact we were very lucky and could find no significant damage. None of the electrics were connected and we suspect they might otherwise have been fried. That experience has made us very wary of electric storms, of course.

By the way - hello. My first post on this forum (it didn't exist when I was first around these forums in the early nineteen nineties) and it's good to see that you (we) east coast types don't go in so much for the kind of personal attacks and playground behaviour that seem to pop up too often upstairs. Long may it continue.

 

[Habebty]

Had a very scary looking roll cloud/squall hit me off Gris Nez today but not much lightning. Had a late start from Dover waiting a storm to pass over, still rained all the bloody way though.
Felt a bit glum as the rain poured off the boom trying to get down my neck....until I saw two channel swimming escort boats bouncing along at two knots with some poor sods doing a channel crossing the really hard way!
Decided to give Saint Valery sir Somme a miss until next week so will savour the flesh pots of Boulogne for a few days to dry out (the boat )

 

[ianfr]

Had the same last Sunday as we came down from Nieuwpoort just between the East and West entrances to Dunkirk. It went really dark and the rain hit giving about 30 yards visibility. Then the lightning. I woke Jo up from her nap and requested that she put on full oilies and life jacket and stay close to the hatch. I made a decision to carry on as turning back would most likely mean a longer exposure. I was quite relieved when after about 20 mins the lightning stopped....

Ian & Jo

 

[Triassic]

Folks, what's the best thing to do if caught in lightning? I've heard the suggestion of keeping a biscuit tin on board and putting PLB's, hand held radios and such like in them but what about fitted instruments? Is it sufficient to just turn of the battery master switch or should I be disconnecting individual items (VHF/Chartplotter etc). I've also heard conflicting views about grounding the mast (it isn't at the moment). It's been suggested heaving to and attaching a set of jump leads to the shrouds over each side is a good idea, others have said that be grounding it you actually make it a more attractive target? Living on hope and ignorance at the moment but I guess that won't last....!

 

[paul-essex]

If it is raining the water on the the rigging and deck and down the sides will ground it but with no rain I would think it would come down rigging and jump shortest gap to water