Just on dark we copped a ripper of a storm a couple of days ago whilst at anchor. We had engine running and in gear, and the wheel locked in the centre position. Last time I looked at the wind speed it gusted to 57 kn. A light show was on and I saw a tree on the island we were anchored off erupt in a shower of sparks as a bolt of lightning hit. I had my hands on the plastic covered life lines looking for a reference on the shoreline when there was a deafening crack of thunder and a brilliant light at the back of me. The boat shook violently and a electric shock went up both my arms past my elbows (like hanging on to a spark plug) Obviously everything was wet including me. No damage we can see to the yacht. Everything electrical is working fine. Did we get hit or just close? Have others had this happen ???
StrucK by lightning or just close ?
- Thread starter Brahmany
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I agree with Ross -- you were just close -- and very lucky. Some years ago, a somewhat similiar event happened while I was sailing on a friend's IP 38. A bolt of lightning hit the water about 25 yds off the bow. Huge flash of light, loud crack, and a geyser of water. We all felt some electricity go through our bodies (and the boat). Hairs stood on ends. The water literally boiled and turned red where the bolt hit. Most of the electronics on board either zeroed or went to their default settings. But no damage at all. We continue to wonder why the lightning hit the water rather than the very tall mast of the boat. Ah, women -- in this case Mother Nature.
Watch the war movies, Warren- they always put a shot across the bow as a warning. Now, just what that warning was for...
Not in a boat,
But was working in the garage one real stormy night when I suddenly felt 'tingly' and suddenly had a super bright flash that completely lit up the garage, and a simultaneous boom to go with it, along with a couple thumps on both sides of the garage. The lights went out, I heard glass hitting the floor, and felt a tug on my jacket.
Went inside for the night after that, when I took my jacket off I noticed a 'sliver' about 6" long and as big around as my pinky stuck in my collar. The next morning when I walked out to see what happened, the garage service pole outside the door had been hit, had slagged metal and two blown out strips of wood down the side of it from top to bottom.
When I went inside the first thing I noticed were holes in one wall, two busted lights, and the other wall had 5 'spears' sticking in it, along with a couple more holes. One of the spears had taken out the lights, and from where I was working when it hit, the position of the holes and spears, I don't see how they missed me.
Needless to say, when I rebuilt the pole, I put a lightning rod on it.
Ken.
But was working in the garage one real stormy night when I suddenly felt 'tingly' and suddenly had a super bright flash that completely lit up the garage, and a simultaneous boom to go with it, along with a couple thumps on both sides of the garage. The lights went out, I heard glass hitting the floor, and felt a tug on my jacket.
Went inside for the night after that, when I took my jacket off I noticed a 'sliver' about 6" long and as big around as my pinky stuck in my collar. The next morning when I walked out to see what happened, the garage service pole outside the door had been hit, had slagged metal and two blown out strips of wood down the side of it from top to bottom.
When I went inside the first thing I noticed were holes in one wall, two busted lights, and the other wall had 5 'spears' sticking in it, along with a couple more holes. One of the spears had taken out the lights, and from where I was working when it hit, the position of the holes and spears, I don't see how they missed me.
Needless to say, when I rebuilt the pole, I put a lightning rod on it.
Ken.
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