Lightning diversion on deck stepped mast

[GordMay]

Statistics must always be understood, in context. Often, it's as much, about what they don't say, as what they do say.
Of more interest to Cruisers:
Nationally [USA], about one in 1,000 boats [all types & sizes] and are struck by lightning, annually, according to BoatUS Marine Insurance claim files.
Not surprisingly, boats get struck most often, where there is a high density of lightning, and a high density of boats.
The most claims, that they have, are from Florida; where they say that a boat is struck, at a rate of 3.3 boats per 1,000.
However, the frequency of lightning claims, is about 1 in 10,000, or one-tenth the average, along the Pacific coast.
➥ https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice...k-by-lightning
➥ https://www.boatus.com/expert-advice...ightning-facts

“A Detailed Analysis of Lightning Deaths in the United States from 2006 through 2019" ~ by John S. Jensenius, Jr., Lightning Safety Specialist, National Lightning Safety Council (February 2020{
➥ https://www.weather.gov/media/safety/Analysis06-19.pdf

Originally Posted by NLSC

Executive Summary
From 2006 through 2019, 418 people were struck and killed by lightning in the United States. Almost two thirds of the deaths occurred to people who had been enjoying outdoor leisure activities...
... From 2006 to 2019,
there were 40 fishing deaths, 25 beach deaths, 20 camping deaths, and 18 boating deaths...”

[AiniA]

Originally Posted by coopec43

Apparently out in the open ocean there is little chance of being zapped. But what about The Great Lakes?

Look at the map.

https://www.researchgate.net/figure/...fig1_354549112

We were hit about half way from NYC to Bermuda so very much open ocean. The remarkable thing was how long it took until we were hit. Lightning was hitting the water around us for 15 minutes or so before we got hit. The only thing you can predict about lightning and lightning protection is that you can't predict it.

[coopec43]

Originally Posted by AiniA

We were hit about half way from NYC to Bermuda so very much open ocean. The remarkable thing was how long it took until we were hit. Lightning was hitting the water around us for 15 minutes or so before we got hit. The only thing you can predict about lightning and lightning protection is that you can't predict it.

But if you look at the lightning activity map you'd expect the likelihood of lightning on the way to Bermuda?