Sailboat Lightning Strike Caught On Camera

[wrwakefield]

The post Sailboat Lightning Strike Caught On Camera appeared first on gCaptain.

By Alex Bering on Feb 11, 2016 06:13 am
Terrible day for this sailboat moored off of Kassandra in Northern, Greece. Might want to give a once over of the electronics after a direct hit like that. At least the boat owner is laid over in a beautiful place if she needs repair.

Timing is everything...

A good reminder to keep spare [and all] electronics secured in a Faraday cage...

Cheers!

Bill

[tuffr2]

Wow...that looked like the 1st lightning of the storm. Kinda quiet right before the strike them wham.

Sent from my SM-G360V using Cruisers Sailing Forum mobile app

[redhead]

Incredible photograph!

[Muckle Flugga]

Fantastic photograph! Thanks for the post!

[barnakiel]

Amazing! Thx for sharing!

b.

[SniperSailor]

A definite DPE.......(Dirtied Pants Event)

[Silverlox]

Was anybody or electronics hurt/damaged?

[Pole]

Be nice if the owner was a member of CF... c'maarn, you know who you are!

I'd like (well, not 'like' as in 'enjoy') to hear firsthand what damage he suffered. Was anyone injured, which electronics got fried, and more interestingly, what didn't get fried?

Amazing picture!

[TomLewis]

Great pic, just noticing the black smoke that would be indicative of something on top got torched. Anodized aluminum, plastic weather vane, guess we will never know.

[Clivevon]

Dont forget your cooker's oven will be a Faraday cage if all metal. Good place for your hand held GPS & VHF sets, laptop, etc in lightning. Just don't try roasting something at the same time...

[BobFord]

Interesting event- Lightning strikes have always been a concern for me.

Can somebody who has knowledge on the subject, comment on my statement.

" My cat. is all aluminium, am I in a " Faraday Cage " ? "

[kryg]

Originally Posted by BobFord

Interesting event- Lightning strikes have always been a concern for me.

Can somebody who has knowledge on the subject, comment on my statement.

" My cat. is all aluminium, am I in a " Faraday Cage " ? "

Interesting question; it would be nice to know what the replys will be - as I have an alumumum build monohull as well - I found my stoves oven too small to store everything that needs protection.

If it is the case in which possibly the boat can not function as a Faraday cage, then one needs to fill a large metal tool box like the trades people have on the back of pickup trucks to solve the size storage problem of all the gear that needs protecting? I to look forward to experenced comments. THX

[Steve Bean]

Ferrocement boat=Faraday cage?? Maybe in the forepeak or lazarette?

[wrwakefield]

Originally Posted by BobFord

Interesting event- Lightning strikes have always been a concern for me.

Can somebody who has knowledge on the subject, comment on my statement.

" My cat. is all aluminium, am I in a " Faraday Cage " ? "

Hi Bob,

I've been collecting some lightning resources over time, but am certainly not an expert. The answer to your question is complex- and not favorable. But, statistics [and physics...] demonstrate that you are better off in your metal sailboat than we are in our fiberglass one... However- according to insurance claim statistics- we are better off in our monohull than you are in your catamaran... And all of us increase our chances of being struck 5 to 10 fold while at anchor... Are you sensing a pattern here?... [All this gleaned from the references, below...]

Here are a couple of resources that relate to your question: The first is this well written article in Ocean Navigator [by the owner of an aluminum sailboat that was struck...] and the second is Marine Lightning Protection Inc. [the company founded by the professor referenced in the above article...]

As a general reference regarding lightning and [fiberglass?] sailboats, attached is a publication from the University of Florida entitled Lightning and Sailboats.

In case this is helpful, and may none of us ever find out first-hand how well protected from lightning we, our vessels, and electronics are...


Cheers!

Bill

[roland stockham]

Interesting to note the absence of any strike path. No sign of the descending strike or anything flowing down the rigging into the water. No shutter speed is fast enough to 'freeze' lightening so not that. Possibly what we are seeing is the top of the mast burning? Everyone thinks of electronic but would you want to press hard to wind on that mast now?