Thunder, lightening all around

[Cerebus]

At anchor and huge strikes of lightening and thunder all around.

Rain just started.

I love it; at one with nature.

Lots of safety precautions taken, so lie back and enjoy it.

June weather.

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Summer has arrived at last. Pictures of the lightning would be good.

 

[veshengro]

I could live with the Thunder but Lightning at sea used to give me the willies. I don't know if they are still there but once there were some laid up/semi derelict ships on the passage through to the bridge at Khalkis, Greece. Lightning struck one of the ships as I was motoring past in a downpour. Frightened the life out of me, even though it was a mile plus away on the port beam. I recall it made a strange 'Clang' sound too.

 

[[70521]]

June weather.

Just wait until the first named storm in August.

 

[capnsensible]

It loses its amusement when you get hit. I've had a few close calls, seen a yacht struck at sea and talked to a guy who took major damage to everything electronic after a strike.

Bit dodgy when you are the only tree in the forest....

 

[LittleSister]

. . .
Bit dodgy when you are the only tree in the forest....

Yes. I was sailing down the East Coast a few years back - nowhere exotic, typical local route, no other boats in sight in the rain reduced visibility - when a cell(?) came through. Lightning striking repeatedly and rapidly (in a way I'd never seen before or since in the UK) down to the sea all around me.

Nothing I could do but pull my hat down firmly, and hope for the best!

 

[LittleSister]

Does anyone have any recommendations for which are the best weather gods to pray/make sacrifices to?

 

[capnsensible]

Neptune

 

[LittleSister]

Neptune

And how shall I decide which member of crew to sacrifice?

 

[Biggles Wader]

It loses its amusement when you get hit. I've had a few close calls, seen a yacht struck at sea and talked to a guy who took major damage to everything electronic after a strike.

Bit dodgy when you are the only tree in the forest....

I was on the bridge of a 12000 ton cargo ship transiting the Malacca Straits when I saw another ship less than a mile away struck by a hefty lightning bolt. I bet they felt that comments were made just before the next one hit us around the funnel area and only about thirty feet away from where I was standing. Apart from the shock and awe element and the dirty laundry it did remarkably little damage!

 

[veshengro]

I seem to remember reading in one of the cruising books of the Hiscocks and others time, that someone suggested a steel chain shackled to the mast rigging and hanging over the side into the sea, was a precaution to consider. I don't think it was the Hiscocks, but someone of that era thought it might be a good idea.

 

[Blueboatman]

Yes. I was sailing down the East Coast a few years back - nowhere exotic, typical local route, no other boats in sight in the rain reduced visibility - when a cell(?) came through. Lightning striking repeatedly and rapidly (in a way I'd never seen before or since in the UK) down to the sea all around me.

Nothing I could do but pull my hat down firmly, and hope for the best!

Ooh.
Hat details please
Corks or tin or large ear muffs?

 

[LittleSister]

Ooh.
Hat details please
Corks or tin or large ear muffs?

 

[Minerva]

And how shall I decide which member of crew to sacrifice?

That’s the easy one; it very much is a meritocracy;

If you have a crew member and you ask them to make a cuppa - if they come back with a cup of milky water with a tea bag bobbing in it. Sorry lad, need to sacrifice you to Neptune for not using the tea pot.

 

[Blueboatman]

View attachment 194790

Excellent.
The spark plug model.
Nice gap across the electrodes there

 

[blush2]

We did the Deauville race in 2017. Weather was a bit unusual going across, port tack all the way from the forts. Once it got dark we could see lightning towards Cherbourg.

It was very hot and humid on the Saturday. We left as soon as the lock opened on Sunday in the afternoon. As it got dark we could see lightning down Channel. It gradually moved east and then spread round both sides of us and across the bows. The lightning was so bright you could see it with your eyes shut.

We put all the important things in the oven and, for safety reasons, reefed the main, although this wasn't actually needed. We had a Yachtmaster examiner on board who was keen to sail rather than just observe candidates, so he had a great time practicing reefing.

We got back with no damage.

Interestingly yesterday's storms seem to have missed us completely in south Devon.

 

[westhinder]

We had a heavy thunderstorm last night in Nieuwpoort, lightning in all directions and an hour long downpour like a firehose. As the rain started we were hit by a prolonged gust of 44 knots, which was recorded on the official instrument nearby as 8 Bft. Fortunately no apparent damage in the harbour and we are satisfied the hatches don’t leak.

 

[mjcoon]

Yes. I was sailing down the East Coast a few years back - nowhere exotic, typical local route, no other boats in sight in the rain reduced visibility - when a cell(?) came through. Lightning striking repeatedly and rapidly (in a way I'd never seen before or since in the UK) down to the sea all around me.

Nothing I could do but pull my hat down firmly, and hope for the best!

What, no movable electronics you could at least put in the oven for Faraday security?

 

[LittleSister]

What, no movable electronics you could at least put in the oven for Faraday security?

I think at the time I had a hand-held VHF and mobile phone aboard,




but no oven!

 

[mjcoon]

I think at the time I had a hand-held VHF and mobile phone aboard,




but no oven!

Ah...
A biscuit tin would be better than nothing, but then we all use Tupperware instead!