Tough Choices for electrical storm

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Jay Hill

Just looked at this week's Quiz Question and noticed that the two choices (of which the Quiz is limited, I think) may be tough to analyze when the results are in. "Cover" is a bit, well, subject to interpretation when there's a mast in the air. "Stay on course" seems to suggest "stay on course no matter what your course was". I love this type of question as it invites instant conversation/debate and input. What other options are there? "Remain underway but change course" might be an option depending on the size, severity, speed, and course of the storm. Then again, "heave-to and hope you're lucky" might be an option if the storm was passing quickly and you really needed to get somewhere or even if you are dozens/hundreds/thousands of miles from the nearest "cover". What do you think?
 
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Bob E.

"Cover" too far away

Seems to me that most sailboats are too slow to get out of the way of an approaching storm. Rather than wasting time on a futile atempt to get into harbour (and maybe getting too close to a lee shore), I'd spend the time preparing the boat for the big blow that usually comes with an electrical storm. Sailing on Lake Ontario, we sometimes get violent line squalls that only give you about 15 minutes warning. The good news is that they are usually over in a short time. As for lightning, there doesn't seem to be any reliable way to protect your boat either in or out of port, so you just have to take your chances.
 
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Gordon Myers

Cover Possible

If you have radar, it can see a storm 20 plus miles out and give you the direction it is traveling. With a little experiance you can deterime how much time you have before it hits you. Therefore, you may be able to get anchored, even in a slip or move the boat around or away from the storm.
 
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