irstax114
12.06.2021 19:54:11
Quick tip: One of the most likely (and worst) things that can happen after impact, is finding yourself without a means to navigate. Lightning can easily destroy your GPS, and even flip your compass around. [links]
See full version: Is It Dangerous to Sail in a Thunderstorm
Quick tip: One of the most likely (and worst) things that can happen after impact, is finding yourself without a means to navigate. Lightning can easily destroy your GPS, and even flip your compass around. [links]
The PRO method: You can install an electrical charge dissipator in the mast head. It looks like a brush. It will avoid the impact to be drawn down by the mast. If you're interested, I found this one on Amazon with great reviews and for a good price. [links]
That doesn't sound like a lot, but it's still every 4 in 1000 boats. There are also a lot more startled sailors than lottery winners out there. Still, it's less common than I thought.
We climbed out of the cabin. We were spinning around at a high speed, and everywhere around us, flashes of lightning came down crashing from the sky. We were the only sailboat on the lake at that time, and it was frightening, to be honest (I was still young). We phoned up a friend, hysterically, and he checked the weather forecast for us. I remember screaming at him, fearing for my life, 'what way does the storm move?!'.
You don't have to panic when there's some lightning around. Impact doesn't usually cause fires, although it can happen. more
You may consider getting a small backup GPS receiver that runs on batteries. If Store it separately and away from any metal parts. If you're interested, I found this one by Garmin on Amazon with good reviews and for a great price.
Waves become steeper and more likely to break in shallow areas, making it difficult to control the boat. Consider the risks if your engine were to die and the wind rapidly blow you onto the rocks or other obstructions. If the wind is blowing toward shore, it can also be risky to attempt to anchor, because the boat may go aground if the anchor drags. It is difficult and sometimes dangerous to try to reset an anchor in storm conditions. You may have better options staying in open water and riding out the storm using the tactics described below.
Lying ahull simply means dropping the sails and letting the boat fare for itself, possibly while you go below to seek shelter. This strategy may work in limited situations when the waves are not too big, the boat is far enough from land and shipping channels so that it doesn't matter how far the boat drifts downwind. In some cases, it may be necessary to lie ahull to attend to an injury or simply because one is too exhausted to continue active strategies. here
Racing sailors, for example, usually have a selection of sails and may prefer to keep going rather than wait out the storm with a different tactic that would essentially stop the boat's progress. Many coastal and recreational sailors do not carry these extra sails, however, and prefer a different strategy, like heaving to. more
How do you do that? Here are some signs that a thunderstorm could soon roll in on the water: more
To lift your storm sail when needed, use a halyard. Your storm sail should be sheeted so it’s in a close-haul position. Jot down where the sail’s track is so you can determine pennant length at the stay base. When bad weather calls for you to use your storm sail, you can then connect your pennant to your stay base, hoisting your storm sail when you do. here
If this is your first storm aboard a boat, then it’s natural to feel nervous and very unsettled. That’s to be expected. Even seasoned sailors aren’t particularly comfortable handling storms, but they do what they have to.
I am the owner of sailoradvice. I live in Birmingham, UK and love to sail with my wife and three boys throughout the year.
When sailing close-hauled, stronger wind or gusts will cause the boat to heel far over and head up into the wind, making control more difficult. Instead of moving the traveler up to center the boom as you would in lighter wind, move it down to leeward to allow some wind to spill. You will still have plenty of driving power, but the boat will heel less and have less weather helm. more
This works the same as with the mainsail to reduce heel. Moving the sheet car aft will help keep the lower part of the jib in trim while allowing some wind to spill from the upper jib, reducing heel. here
When winds approach a storm force, you need to take immediate steps to stay safe on your sailboat. In this scenario, you typically reef the sails or switch to storm sails first. You might then prepare to heave to, run off downwind, or lie ahull. According to "Sailing Magazine," winds over 35 knots are rare and are only seen about 10 to 15 percent of the time. Regardless, it's important for sailors to be trained in making adjustments and adhering to protocols in order to keep the boat and its passengers safe when poor weather conditions come about.
This is important to do when these tactics are not enough to prevent excessive heeling. Reefing is your first major strategy for heavier weather. To make it easier to reef, try heaving to first.