Thunder ang lightning

I'm living testament to the fact that lightning strikes on the water are survivable and not only the once but contrary to popular sentiment, twice. Once at Grafham water where along with the entire fleet (of windsurfers) I was stunned briefly by a bolt hitting a tree on the nearby lee shore.

The second time, more recently and more spectacularly, rather like when the Emporer was zapping Luke Skywalker and all those blue flashes were all over him. That was exactly what happened as my glassed flew from my head in a shower of sparks, the crackles of blue light went all over me and I was knocked into the water it felt like extreme pins and needles briefly, but the wet suit acted like a Faradays cage (look it up it's what happens in cars and airplanes). I think there would be less contact in a dinghy since we're not holding onto the boom as we do windsurfing.

I was once told that if you're not holding anything metal (i.e tiller extension), if the mast gets hit by lightning then it might make a hole in the bottom of the boat but you should be OK. Wouldn't want to test it though.

Interestingly I was watching a programme last night on how they proofed carbon composite planes against lightning strike and they have to use a micro copper mesh to channel the current, or as you say the electricity breaks up the fibres.

My mast was carbon, but with a wet luff sleeve covering it which must have routed the current.

I would have thought by now, there would have been a death in sail boats, they've been around long enough.

Originally posted by iGRF I'm living testament to the fact that lightning strikes on the water are survivable and not only the once but contrary to popular sentiment, twice. Once at Grafham water where along with the entire fleet (of windsurfers) I was stunned briefly by a bolt hitting a tree on the nearby lee shore. The second time, more recently and more spectacularly, rather like when the Emporer was zapping Luke Skywalker and all those blue flashes were all over him. That was exactly what happened as my glassed flew from my head in a shower of sparks, the crackles of blue light went all over me and I was knocked into the water it felt like extreme pins and needles briefly, but the wet suit acted like a Faradays cage (look it up it's what happens in cars and airplanes). I think there would be less contact in a dinghy since we're not holding onto the boom as we do windsurfing.

Personally I am too good a person to be 'smote by lightning', God reserves that for the sinners in our midst, but when I was a young lad sailing models he came close. Lightning struck the brass knob of a concrete drinking fountain on Clapham Common not ten feet away! Gave me a shock I can tell you...bet it killed the 1950's bacteria though!