Offshore Sailing in Thunderstorm far from land

[Goldencrab95]

I have read reliable ways for safety rules on board a sailboat in the thunderstorm. But these rules only apply to coastal sailing and inland sailing (excluding the really big lakes like the great lakes). However, my specific question I am asking to this discussion pertains specifically to an offshore cruising sailboat caught in a thunderstorm hundreds to thousands of miles from the nearest land. My specific question is: What are the safety precautions needed to be taken in water sailing">blue water sailing during a thunderstorm in the high seas or the middle of the ocean?

[Perstarebob]

I assume you are wondering about lightning , precautions would be the same inshore or offshore . I grew up sailing in the lighting capitol , Canaveral area . We just kept on sailing , ain't a whole lot that you can do .

[CRM]

There has been a lot of discussion about lightning protection, without any clear testing or consensus about what is best. For me, the most reliable information seems to come from the electric utility companies that need to protect all of their transmission towers. You can find articles online about how they do this.

[CSY Man]

>blue water sailing during a thunderstorm in the high seas or the middle of the ocean?

Steer away from it. If you can't, hunker down and close the hatches. And, uh, reef sails.

[svmariane]

Originally Posted by CSY Man

Steer away from it. If you can't, hunker down and close the hatches. And, uh, reef sails.

^ this

And put a few of your "must have" electronic toys in a Faraday cage.

[MarkJ]

1) Launch Life raft. Put women and children in.
2) sail on.

I was in an intense one somewhere so I just went below to bed in the forard cabin and realised my head was about 6 inches from the masts compression post. If we had been hit my noggin would be fried. I rolled over and went to sleep

[hellosailor]

Set the sails and helm so the boat can take care of itself for a while. Then go below and stay away from anything that might carry part of a lightning strike, i.e. sit on the cabin floor, or a settee away from the chainplates, or in the v-berth, so that if the boat is struck, you are less likely to be used as a conductor.


Disconnect all radio antennas (after requesting a check-in after the storm passes) and stow any portable electronics in a faraday cage. If you've got a good metal oven, climb in there with them.

[JPA Cate]

Well, I guess i am more concerned about how much wind there's going to be in it; shortened sail is a good idea when the t/s gets that funny greenish color, or if you see the almost black edge of the roll cloud coming towards you. A look at the radar will show you sometimes if there's a downpour, but won't show just a microburst.

We have put spare GPSs in the oven. You can also use a pressure cooker for a faraday cage, without the rubber gasket.

Occasionally have disconnected the electrics.

Mostly, try to avoid; shorten sail, then if there are lots of ground strikes as opposed to cloud to cloud, then get serious about it. They can be scary. They can also have an awesome beauty.

Ann

[model 10]

Originally Posted by Ann T. Cate

We have put spare GPSs in the oven. You can also use a pressure cooker for a faraday cage, without the rubber gasket.

Ann

How do you have your pressure cooker grounded? For that matter how do you have your stove grounded?

[hoppy]

Originally Posted by MarkJ

1) Launch Life raft. Put women and children in.
2) sail on.

Personally I don't think a thunderstorm is needed to justify that action. Too much nagging and crying should be enough, even in perfect weather.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Guy

How do you have your pressure cooker grounded? For that matter how do you have your stove grounded?

Doesn’t need to be grounded. Google "Faraday cage" for an explanation.

Sent from my SGP521 using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Guy

How do you have your pressure cooker grounded? For that matter how do you have your stove grounded?

It's nothing to do with grounding. Any metal cage will protect items inside getting electrocuted.
What you need to ground are the extremes of the boat, mast, pulpits, shrouds etc to the sea.

[ozskipper]

hah. I was MOB during one a few years back. Lightening on the three quarters- ahead, Starboard and Port with me in the water. Oh such fun.

I had gone over to untangle a line from the rudder. The mistake I made, was my expectations of my wife (ex-wife now) were too high. I expected her to be able to pick me up. It took forever before she figured out she was meant to park the boat the to windward. Trying to yell instructions in the middle of 30knots isnt that easy.

Yeah yeah.. lesson learned. Practice that stuff! I know.

End result, we all lived. Oh and I got the boat in the divorce. Happy days!.

[UNCIVILIZED]

Crack open a cold one & enjoy the show. That, & stay the f**k away from waterspouts & twisters, if at all possible. Some of which is determined by how you position yourself in relation to the squash line... if possible. Although if you don't see things coming until the system's 5nm away, that's kind of tough to do.

[El Pinguino]

Once lightning is in sight I really don't want to be involved in unplugging antennas....

I guess thats why they invented crew.....

However...

Maybe something like a Delta 2 ( or one of their other products) http://www.alphadeltacom.com/pdf/prices_switches-3.pdf
would work.