Philip Torrens wrote: "if you were trapped out in the middle of flat(!) water, i guess your best hope would be to watch for the (lightning) bolt, and in the 1/100000000000 of a second while it descended, roll over so you wouldn't be as tall. Oh, and while you were under, you could pop your skirt and curl your torso into your cockpit so you could cover your behind (or kiss it goodbye). Any more practical ideas on what to do if caught at sea?" As with previous discussions about other hazards, the potential for being struck by lightning seems best dealt with by avoiding the situation in the first place. Nevertheless, we sometimes get caught unexpectedly. From the website that Jackie mentioned there is a description I have heard previously about the forewarning of an imminent nearby lightning strike. Apparently the air in the vicinity can become electrically polarized enough to cause a person's skin to tingle, dry hair to rise, and there may also be a faint buzzing sound, as in low-level electrical discharge. It seems to me that if a paddler observes any of these warning signs while caught on the water, it would be a very good idea to roll and stay under as long as possible, absolutely minimizing your height above water as well as direct exposure of your bod. This also eliminates pointy objects, such as my head or paddle, sticking up for the lightning to favor as its path. However these comments are not based on any direct experience of mine, and may not actually provide any safety at all. Also, the warning indications may not be present in many cases. Lightning is scary stuff, REALLY scary stuff. My buddy Fred and I were out for a Sunday morning paddle on a beautifyl bayou, skies somewhat cloudy, breaking the heat. As we paddled, the sky became more overcast, and eventually we started seeing signs of rain in the distance, then lighting flashes and distant thunder. Fred had checked the weather forecast and radar map closely, and had a plan. We paddled to a stretch of shoreline with an extensive, near-vertical cliff. Raindrops were beginning to fall as we parked the kayaks right next to the muddy bank and stayed in them, sheltering below the cliff, but far from the highest part of it. As the rain got heavier, the lightning bolts came closer, with the closest within 1/4 mile or so. That one shook us! The thunderstorm passed, skies cleared, and we paddled on, with an eye on the horizon, which stayed relatively clear the rest of the morning. I enjoyed the trip a lot more than I would have without the shelter of that cliff! But I also vowed to be a lot more cautious about possible exposure to lightning conditions. Safe paddling to all, John *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************
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