Sailing in thunderstorm

I’ve sailed in enough thunderstorms not to worry too much but some have been very dramatic and I broke a spreader on a very early sail when the main gybed violently when the thunder squall hit and the wind changed direction. Since then I’ve tried to reef or drop the main if I see a lot of white water under the lightning approaching.
 
There seem to be two kinds of storm: those with high winds, and those without. I remember seeing a YM article about how to predict the former but can't remember the details. If you are lucky, the winds will be included in local forecasts, as happened once to us memorably when he had to sit out 60mph winds at anchor in the Blackwater.
 
There were warnings of thunderstorms around Split in Croatia week before last. Everyone ignored the forecast and several boats damaged when a storm hit overnight. I had the worst night ever on a mooring in Havr but carried on for another 11 days ignoring thunderstorm warnings as did everyone else.
 
I now switch off all electronic navigation equipment in a thunderstorm. Years back lightning caused all my VDO instruments to stop working and the screens went blank. I switched the power off, and turned it back on again when the storm had passed. Miracle of miracles a message appeared on the repeater screen saying that the system was re-booting. This stayed on for some time and then all the instruments came back to life. I don't know if other makes protect themselves that way.
 
From experience, lightning in busy anchorages and in marinas, and general reading there's little evidence that tall structures are any more at risk of a direct strike. So whilst it's scary, gusts mostly, the objective danger seems no worse at sea than in a marina or on a mooring. Near misses can also take out electronics so it's worth taking precautions like using the oven and disconnecting stuff then crossing your fingers :o
 
Halo said:
There were warnings of thunderstorms around Split in Croatia week before last. Everyone ignored the forecast and several boats damaged when a storm hit overnight. I had the worst night ever on a mooring in Havr but carried on for another 11 days ignoring thunderstorm warnings as did everyone else.
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We were on the boat in Primosten the week before last and most of those thunderstorms were a bit south of us but we could hear and see them in the distance and got some torrential rain.

We've sailed several times in the Croatian thunderstorms and sometimes the wind has been reasonably consistent which is not really a problem but, at Rupert says, sometimes the winds swirls around 360 degrees and the boom swings from one side to the other and the genoa flaps around like a mad thing. I don't like that one little bit and after damaging our foresail the first time it happened I now roll it in as soon as I see the black clouds with flashes heading our way. :ambivalence:

Richard
 
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Would I set off in a thunderstorm?

No.
I don't like getting wet if I don't have to it will pass soon:).

I've been hit by lightning(Not me the Boat).
Lightning can be seen 100 miles away at sea. If I see it coming close. I'm dropping sails and going bellow.

PS. I don't fly if thunderstorms are around either.
 
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The piece of advice I was told when sailing in an electrical storm was to turn the engine on as a strike could fry the batteries.
 
Scala said:
What to do If electrical storm is forecast and you’re safe in port but want/need to move? Risk it?
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If it was electrical and clearly fork lightening then:

Want to move = no
Need to move = need to move so yes

If your in port you're already protected by loads of other things surrounding you so I certainly would not go out into open water unless I had to.
 
Seven Spades said:
Now I don't get that' If you are struck with the engine on you might lose power and drift. With the sails up you can carry on regardless.
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I think the logic is that a strike could fry the rigging and result in you losing the mast - if it also fried the batteries but you had the engine already running you would be able to continue under power. Not sure that's valid with a modern diesel with an ECU and throttle by wire. Not sure what you gain by taking the sails down either.

Personally if had the ability to avoid the lightning I would but I wouldn't be panicking about sailing in it unless it was really bad. I've dealt with the residue of lightning strikes on quite a few aircraft and a couple of boats and none of them were pretty but no-one was injured in any of them either - in fact the only person I knew that has ever been injured by lightning was walking across a golf course at the time.
 
I have a grounding plate on my boat but if someone didnt, would there be any merit in wrapping some chain around the mast and leading over the side into the water? Probably not I'm guessing as the risk of being struck whilst rigging such a thing probably negates any benefit.
 
A learned friend assures me that a grounded mast is more likely to attract a strike unless fitted with a lightening dissipator. We've been at sea with strikes around half mile away and I didn't like it! Have also been on the mooring with several strikes to the water between yachts and none were hit - didn't much like that either.
 
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