I took a hit through my trailer hitch latch to my right arm. It was at Sandy point in Annapolis right before a Down The Bay. Same storm's micro burst destroyed a few boats and knocked a few more out of the race.Lightning struck the parking lot where I was unhitching the trailer.So much for the rubber tire theory. My arm was numb for about 15 minutes. For the people that know me ,this might explain alot.

Back in my youth I was on a trailer sailer in a thunder storm. First strike of the storm hit either the mast or the water next to the boat. The chainplates and a stanchion on each side shared a common base plate. The boat had an earth wire.

I was leaning against the life lines when the strike hit and was thrown from one side of the boat to the other. No damage to the boat (it had no instruments). I don't sail in storms.

A quote from Dave Attell of "insomniac" that somehow seems fitting. Apparently he was struck outside a nightclub. He observes....

" Some people think that if you get struck by lightning you will get super powers, like the ability to shoot lightning out of your fingers or something...... I got the power to S**t my pants and shake on the ground, will I use it for good or evil....stay tuned.."

This article was provided in another lightning thread on this forum about two years ago.

http://www.stewartfam.net/arlyn/lightning2.html

the crew and I were sheltering inside a yacht as we motored home during a violent storm when the skipper started yelling for help moments before and just as a lightning strike hit the water close by.

We rushed on deck to see what all the noise was about and had to pry his fingers off the stainless wheel as his hands were paralysed.

He and we came good after a large rum.

Yes, if you want to attract lightening.

The one thing you can depend on when it comes to lightening is that you can't depend on anything.

I captained charter trips for 10 years and did yacht deliveries during that time and sailed through many, many lightning storms, never been hit. Had strikes nearby that would make things tingle a bit, but never been hit.
However, many cruising boats ground their boats to the water to dissipate any lightning strikes. Those were the only boats I knew of that ever got hit. Some had pretty bad damage -- they are sort of saying, "Come on! Give me your best shot!" And then trying to guide that strike to the water ground. That is when the lightning says, "OK, here is my best shot, and I am going to go anywhere I want once I hit."
As far as cat sailing goes, again no hits. Back in the 70s while sailing in Canada we were in a huge storm with strikes all around us. We had an aluminum tiller extension and could feel the shocks coming through it from strikes around us.
I got off the wire -- felt a bit concerned about a wire aiming right at my navel. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
So, never was good at physics and science in school, but after 43 years on the water, I can report I have never seen a moving sailboat get hit by lightning, unless grounded.
Rick

The problem with most of these stories, is they are about grounded masts. Except for some early boats, beach cats do not have grounded masts. Beach cats are less likely to be directly struck by lightning than grounded masts and will be more likely to shock you due to nearby strikes or static buildup.

I have only seen one beach cat struck by lightning. It was setting on the beach during a really bad storm. It looked like someone had set off a stick of dynamite under the mast. The lightning apparently hit the mast, burned through one or more shrouds and grounded itself by vaporizing part of one hull. So if you ever get really unlucky, the results could be really bad.

these an old aupercat 17 down at the beach right now that got hit by lighting.... the mast is alittle messed up but the lighting blem a hole the size of a baseball on the outer side of the starboard hull near the ground..... it was beached and tied down with line..... its been there for years and the guy still thinks he's gonna fix it someday.... hahaha... the hole gets softer and softer the longer it sits....

So, the consensus from what I'm reading here is:

If Lightning storms approach, go out and sail. If you're on the beach, your boat will be toast.

Oh, and wear hearing protection and rubber gloves to minimize shock (electric and sonic) from nearby strikes.

And disposable underwear!

Who wears underwear? <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I see your point - why should you when your nutz are stored in the freezer next to the ice cream?

(man, you're just too easy).

That was cold!!

(ha ha, you're easier!! <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />)

I believe you made the point -- the boats on the beach that were struck by lightning were indeed grounded.
Boats on the beach were the only ones I have ever seen hit as well.
Again, never have seen an ungrounded sailing boat get hit by lightning.
Rick

With respect to the grounding thing, it had been said that you could survive a lightning strike in a pool by not touching the sides or bottom (and therefore grounding yourself).

While not having the "bravado" to test this theory (see aforementioned freezer comment <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> ), I guess lessons from underwater welding could be loosely translated to this larger scale. The arc welders they use can do some damage if you're not careful.

So, by not being grounded in the first place (on the water), you stand a slightly better chance of not being a conduit for the lightning?

I'm still of the belief that when your number's up, there isn't much you can do about it...

check it....here's one reason why it's so random. The first part of the lightning strike is these charge fingers that are splintering while connecting the dots between dust and water particles in the air. The first one that finds a path to ground gets the charge....this is super high speed video of a tower strike.

That is awesome to watch

That is off the hook!

The 'fingers' show up really well on that video...

Thanks Jake, Both of my kids loved that video. Is there more of the same somewhere?