Re: [Paddlewise] Lightening Revisited

I have posted this little essay several times....  It lays out my thinking
on the issue (I have a degree in metrology)

Get a weather radio with an alarm.  USE IT!  If a broadcast warning is
received believe the information and do something while you can.  Convection
cells (thunderstorms) can move at speeds as high as 40 kt's.  I have years
of experience observing the weather and I am always impressed with how
rapidly a powerful storm can come upon me.

Unless you are positive you can reach land before the storm strikes don't
try it.  More boats are lost and people injured by the common mania to get
to shore at any cost.  If you are wearing a PFD, stay in contact with your
boat and have the capability of reentering after the wind subsides (and it
will be briefly calm before the prevailing gradient flow is reestablished)
you have an excellent chance of getting through this type of (short term)
meteorological event.

I think the greatest danger to the paddler would be from the paddle itself.
The initial gust(s) from a powerful storm can easily reach 60 to 80 kts.
This is guaranteed to yank the paddle from your grasp capsize you and in so
doing commit god knows what mayhem to your person.  I would be sure the
paddle is tethered to the boat and in the water before the initial gust
hits.  It might be worth while to try bending forward so as to reduce the
amount of windage.  Regardless of what you do in that respect you will
probably go over but, who knows...

Secondly I would like to reassure the reader that the risk of electrocution
while in the water is not as great as one would fear.  I work with a guy who
blew over in a Lightning (17 foot day sailer) in Oyster Bay LI during a
severe thunderstorm.  Although there were several lighting strikes in his
vicinity all he experienced was a tingling.


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