Donalex; I also subscribe to the concept that it could be best to be near to something tall and conductive like another taller boat; but so why do they tell you not to stand under a tree? Many golfers die this way.[/quote said:
Lightning and sailboats
- Thread starter Cpt. Jon
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Here's another web site detailing the sequence of a strike. There's a lot more going on than meets the eye.
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/electric/ligseq.html
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/HBASE/electric/ligseq.html
Magnetic Field
Keep in mind that during the strike a huge magnetic field rapidly opens and then falls back on itself.
Any conductive material the field crosses has current induced on it.
The same physics as how a generator works.
Thats one of the ways you can sustain damage to electronics (or maybe yourself for that matter) even though you didn't take the direct hit.
The rise/fall time is incredibly short. Most people think of lightning protection the same as dealing with DC. But you're really dealing with an initial reaction time more in the VHF region (timewise that is).
Keep in mind that during the strike a huge magnetic field rapidly opens and then falls back on itself.
Any conductive material the field crosses has current induced on it.
The same physics as how a generator works.
Thats one of the ways you can sustain damage to electronics (or maybe yourself for that matter) even though you didn't take the direct hit.
The rise/fall time is incredibly short. Most people think of lightning protection the same as dealing with DC. But you're really dealing with an initial reaction time more in the VHF region (timewise that is).
Re: Magnetic Field
What interests me (from a distance) is all the activity that occurs in a strike. From the leaders, to the downward stroke, to several cycles plus side strikes, etc. All too fast for the human eye to take in. What most people don't realize is the leader comes from the ground up which is then followed up by what we see as the visible downward arc. My father used to say, "don't worry about it, you'll never see the one that get's you". While it's not exactly what he meant, based on the technical description of a strike I suppose he was right.
What interests me (from a distance) is all the activity that occurs in a strike. From the leaders, to the downward stroke, to several cycles plus side strikes, etc. All too fast for the human eye to take in. What most people don't realize is the leader comes from the ground up which is then followed up by what we see as the visible downward arc. My father used to say, "don't worry about it, you'll never see the one that get's you". While it's not exactly what he meant, based on the technical description of a strike I suppose he was right.
I REASONABLY ignore lightning...
Here in Florida, lightning is almost a daily occurrence from May to October. I've known about alot of strikes to boats, but never heard of a serious injury while on board. I'm not gonna stand up with a metal rod in my hand during a storm, but I doubt it would affect the odds at all.
I have been struck before, on a golf course, where clouds were still aways off. It actually struck the tee we were standing on, and blew two of us several feet in the air. It actually wasn't as scary as some near misses I've had.
At our house, lightning struck THROUGH a large limb and through a brick path, hitting a concrete (reinforced with metal) parking stop that we didn't even know was buried there. THAT one loosened me up faster than metamucil...
I have no research to back it up, but anectdotal information tells me being in a sailboat during a lightning storm is a pretty good place to be...
cup
Here in Florida, lightning is almost a daily occurrence from May to October. I've known about alot of strikes to boats, but never heard of a serious injury while on board. I'm not gonna stand up with a metal rod in my hand during a storm, but I doubt it would affect the odds at all.
I have been struck before, on a golf course, where clouds were still aways off. It actually struck the tee we were standing on, and blew two of us several feet in the air. It actually wasn't as scary as some near misses I've had.
At our house, lightning struck THROUGH a large limb and through a brick path, hitting a concrete (reinforced with metal) parking stop that we didn't even know was buried there. THAT one loosened me up faster than metamucil...
I have no research to back it up, but anectdotal information tells me being in a sailboat during a lightning storm is a pretty good place to be...
cup
Why doesn't it happen more often?
Sailing back from Bermuda to NY, got caught in a full gale in the gulf stream. Quite the thunder and lightning storm. The smell of the ozone was very strong. Strikes hitting all around the boat. We were unscathed. It makes no sense that we were not hit. It was blowing 50+ with 15-20 foot seas. A friend of my dad's was along with us, happens to be a minister. My dad said to him, maybe its time to start praying. His reply was "Ron, what the hell you think I've been doing for the last hr!" I almost died from laughing.
Sailing back from Bermuda to NY, got caught in a full gale in the gulf stream. Quite the thunder and lightning storm. The smell of the ozone was very strong. Strikes hitting all around the boat. We were unscathed. It makes no sense that we were not hit. It was blowing 50+ with 15-20 foot seas. A friend of my dad's was along with us, happens to be a minister. My dad said to him, maybe its time to start praying. His reply was "Ron, what the hell you think I've been doing for the last hr!" I almost died from laughing.
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