Sailing Tactics in a Squall / Thunderstorm

[Big T]

Florida Storms (As in Tampa Bay)

I sail on Tampa Bay. Of coarse, the best thing here is keep up on the weather and don't stray to far from port if heavy weather is expected because everyone knows about Tampa and lightning. However, I have been in a few storms here when overnighting and here's my experience. Use all the anchor line you have. Minimum 10:1 (line per foot depth). Use a second anchor also set from bow. Danforth anchors are best for this area. Don't anchor too close to shore to give yourself a little reaction time if you begin to drag anchor (if the wind clocks and your anchors have to reset). A strong wind will ground you hard (and a falling tide won't help. Find a shore light (for night) to always check to see if your dragging anchor also. Keep your motor down and ready.Rpleasure!

 

[TODD]

"plane to sea"

A lot of research has been done in the area of composites and electrical charge/lightning shedding. Unfortunately most of the research has been aircraft based. Some things I have seen and observed (being an ariline pilot who has been hit by lightning several times) are as follows:1. Composites are very poor coductors of electricity, however with very high voltages, lightning will "hug" the surface of an airframe or hull.2.When the lightning reaches a sharp corner (the curve near the waterline on our H-26's) The lightning continues in a straight line. The heat energy tends to vaporize anything in it's way.3. In aircraft with composite winglets (most modern jets/turbo-props) they protect against holes being blown in composites by laying a wire mesh (screen like material) between fiberglass layers.4. The mesh is then hard-wired to the rest of the airframe. This gives lightning/staic a preffered route to escape without hurting the structure too much.I think the theory that the lightning came down the stays and traveled along the hull before blowing it's way out is correct. I also think it's time we (consumers of boats) put a little pressure on our boat producers to do a little research for our sake.Hope it helps.Stay safe and enjoy the summer.!!!

 

[keith smoot]

a tale of two boats and lightning

In May 1999 my friend and I were sailing on Charleston Harbor, SC. We had been out to sea briefly, only to reenter the harbor facing a fearful thunderstorm. We lowered sails and began motoring. His Chrysler 23 has no mast to keel bonding, my H-23 is bonded from mast to wing-keel with 8ga stranded wire. The Chrysler has a swing-keel. While motoring in David followed the channel markers, right into the storm. I moved to shallower water near the Battery, away from the storm. Twice David was shocked when he leaned on his winches. I instructed my wife not to touch any metal. Just before reaching the storm cloud touching the water, David experienced a blinding flash and crack. The remains of his 8ft fiberglass Shakespear antenna landed on his deck. I had no electrical sensations at all. Ground your mast and major metal to the keel. The cables and zinks wouldn't hurt either. Sail away from the storm. Every static dissapating device you can think of will work better than nothing.Keith Smoot

 

[misc]

More from Hunter ?

From reading the post on the new Hunter owners, we should be happy if we get a new boat that FLOATS, never mind has some built in lightening protection.My other car is a Westsail32.