Sailing During an Electrical Storm

[landsend]

My son and I were off Islamorada, Florida Keys and whilst anchoring in the middle of a storm were both shocked. Felt like our fingers touched an outlet. How far does the lightening strike have to be to have this effect?

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by landsend

My son and I were off Islamorada, Florida Keys and whilst anchoring in the middle of a storm were both shocked. Felt like our fingers touched an outlet. How far does the lightening strike have to be to have this effect?

I don't think that question is even answerable, I don't believe there even has to be a strike, if Ben Franklin was stuck, I guess he would have still discovered electricity, just we wouldn't have known it?

I don't mean that as a sarcastic answer, just the more I learn about Lightning, the more I learn there are no or at least very few rules, you can be standing under a clear blue sky and be struck.

[tkeithlu]

The military uses ten miles in front of a storm (existing lightning, rain) as a standard of safety for closing down air fields and training. That's when the lightning is so far away that there is 50 seconds between the bolt and the boom. Lightning has been known to precede a storm by 10 miles. As for getting shocked without being part of the bolt, it has happened to me, too - shocked through the hands while holding a grounded helm, with the bolt hitting the water perhaps a mile away. My impression is 1. The electromagnetic field is a lot bigger than the bolt, and 2. Mr. Franklin was quite fortunate not to have become a crispy critter.

[landsend]

My respect for lightning has increased. 10 miles! Through water. Incredible. It was quite an experience. Thanks.