I hit my first foul weather ever two weeks ago ! Sudden storm, high winds, lightning etc. The lightning had me worried. My question is: what to do when caught out there in such a situation ? How big is the risk to our personal safety ? What happens if the mast is hit by lightning. Inquiring minds want to know ! Many thanks, Yvan
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Diff'rent Strokes
I can relate my experience for whatever that may be worth. We sail in an area prone to sudden summer squalls that are often accompanied by high winds, driving rain, hail and lightning. Enough experience with these squalls makes you just comfortable enough to forgo putting on the Depends with your foul weather gear but leaves you as nervous as fox in a pack of hounds. If you see a squall line approaching, drop and secure all sails and lines. I rarely anchor, though many do. Assuming that it will miss you is a sure invitation to be wrong. They usually pass quickly and wind direction will reverse itself. You should expect gusts up to 40 knots which can lay you over to 30 degrees under bare poles and will knock you flat if your main is up and sheeted in. Hail can be painful and driving rain will make it difficult to see. Visibility will drop to less than a boat length. I've seen lightning hit the water less than a boat length away on several occasions. I've been hit by lightning just once while aboard in over forty years of sailing. Wouldn't care to repeat the experience. I was at the wheel with the rest of the crew down below. I saw a bright flash, but didn't notice much sound. The crew later reported hearing a huge boom, but didn't notice any flash...go figure. Immediately after the flash, I saw molten metal hitting the foredeck. I reflexively jerked my hands off the stainless steel wheel. My first conscious thought was "that's a pretty dumb move, Cap'n Stupid...it'd be too late now if was going to zap you!" Insurance (less the deductible) took care of the VHF whip, Wind sensor and Windex, all of which were vaporised, the damage survey haul, and the instruments. The only thing wrong with the instruments was the SeaTalk capability was fried.
I can relate my experience for whatever that may be worth. We sail in an area prone to sudden summer squalls that are often accompanied by high winds, driving rain, hail and lightning. Enough experience with these squalls makes you just comfortable enough to forgo putting on the Depends with your foul weather gear but leaves you as nervous as fox in a pack of hounds. If you see a squall line approaching, drop and secure all sails and lines. I rarely anchor, though many do. Assuming that it will miss you is a sure invitation to be wrong. They usually pass quickly and wind direction will reverse itself. You should expect gusts up to 40 knots which can lay you over to 30 degrees under bare poles and will knock you flat if your main is up and sheeted in. Hail can be painful and driving rain will make it difficult to see. Visibility will drop to less than a boat length. I've seen lightning hit the water less than a boat length away on several occasions. I've been hit by lightning just once while aboard in over forty years of sailing. Wouldn't care to repeat the experience. I was at the wheel with the rest of the crew down below. I saw a bright flash, but didn't notice much sound. The crew later reported hearing a huge boom, but didn't notice any flash...go figure. Immediately after the flash, I saw molten metal hitting the foredeck. I reflexively jerked my hands off the stainless steel wheel. My first conscious thought was "that's a pretty dumb move, Cap'n Stupid...it'd be too late now if was going to zap you!" Insurance (less the deductible) took care of the VHF whip, Wind sensor and Windex, all of which were vaporised, the damage survey haul, and the instruments. The only thing wrong with the instruments was the SeaTalk capability was fried.
Pick up a copy of ....
...The Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere. It's a classic must have in any sailors library. There's a lot of advice on heavy weather sailing, tips on reading the weather, navigation etc. The tape/dvd version of this book was produced in the late 80s but is still very relevent. I believe you can get the whole set at amazon for a pretty good price, or you can just buy the heavy weather sailing tape itself.
...The Annapolis Book of Seamanship by John Rousmaniere. It's a classic must have in any sailors library. There's a lot of advice on heavy weather sailing, tips on reading the weather, navigation etc. The tape/dvd version of this book was produced in the late 80s but is still very relevent. I believe you can get the whole set at amazon for a pretty good price, or you can just buy the heavy weather sailing tape itself.
.........and
...........and quickly turn all your navigation, steaming and anchor lights on to make you are as visible as possible to other boats in the area, have your engine on, make sure the crew and/or passengers wear life preservers, and take a line of sight bead on the closest shore line and the chart to make sure that while your heading into the wind under power, while the bow is "busting" into the waves you do not get close to submerged or navigational hazards. I found when we get hit on the Lake in oncoming and intense storms coupled with our experiences on the ICW that keeping the bow into the wind under power at a speed that just is one click on this side of maintaining steerage is the most crucial activity. A very strong gust will take the bow hard over and you have to regain steerage into the wind thats why the lower RPM so I have reserve power to get back in line. Many will drop anchor if it gets too dicey and tough to make headway. Preparation and readiness is very key here. This is where you develope a quick respect for nature. You can do nothing about lightning. Many say you are actually safe on a sailboat within the standing rigging cone of protection because of the mast grounding to the keel. I had to several times tuck my hands into my foul weather coat and hold the wheel to steer while all hell broke looose around me thinking I am insulated! Yeah right!!! Many opinions I am sure, but you have to find your own comfort level, if their is one, on how to handle to stay out of harms way in an open water storm. Bob 30 Catalina
...........and quickly turn all your navigation, steaming and anchor lights on to make you are as visible as possible to other boats in the area, have your engine on, make sure the crew and/or passengers wear life preservers, and take a line of sight bead on the closest shore line and the chart to make sure that while your heading into the wind under power, while the bow is "busting" into the waves you do not get close to submerged or navigational hazards. I found when we get hit on the Lake in oncoming and intense storms coupled with our experiences on the ICW that keeping the bow into the wind under power at a speed that just is one click on this side of maintaining steerage is the most crucial activity. A very strong gust will take the bow hard over and you have to regain steerage into the wind thats why the lower RPM so I have reserve power to get back in line. Many will drop anchor if it gets too dicey and tough to make headway. Preparation and readiness is very key here. This is where you develope a quick respect for nature. You can do nothing about lightning. Many say you are actually safe on a sailboat within the standing rigging cone of protection because of the mast grounding to the keel. I had to several times tuck my hands into my foul weather coat and hold the wheel to steer while all hell broke looose around me thinking I am insulated! Yeah right!!! Many opinions I am sure, but you have to find your own comfort level, if their is one, on how to handle to stay out of harms way in an open water storm. Bob 30 Catalina
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