Carbon or Tin in Thunderstorm

[THG]

 Just curious, last night managed to sail in big thunderstorm lots of lightening etc - had to retire too, after being in a nearly winning position 3 laps in    (smalll crew not too happy being out in all that wind / rain / flashes) - so is it any safer being struck by  lightening with a carbon or a tin rig??

Anyone knows what happens??

Kean

[John Murrell (Guest)]

Apart from a loud bang, burst eardrums, lots of frying, going blind you rely on The Holy Grail to protect you!!!!!!!!!

Sounds like you are enjoying the boat?

John

[THG]

John,  THG has had several visits to other places, Bristol (swimming), Avon (Swimming), Trent (drifting) and a few home sails.  Enjoying the boat and learning how to set up and get best out - last night we were going very well until.....

Kean

[Mikey C]

Either are not good - try and find a "buddy" with a taller mast than you - one that isnt wood...

[Jimbo42]

[philipcosson]

On one of my tables for risk estimate it cites a 1:9100 risk of lightning strike. (US population). I'm assuming sailing in a thunderstorm raises this risk quite coniderably.

there are 2000 thunderstorms active at any given time arround the world. generaing 100 lightning strikes per second. a lightning bolt can be as much as 1 mile in advance of any clouds.

i would clear the water ASAP in a thunderstorm - and i'm not particularly risk averse.

Philip

[RogerBrisley]

[philipcosson]

afirmative to both points Roger!

Philip