Next message: Bob Lowe: "TWL: From the experts on lightning"
I know the odds of being hit by lightning are not high but I have been hit by
lightning three times. This lightning stuff has made a huge difference in
boating for me. The last time was so horrifically frightening that I sold my
sailboat the following year and have not returned to sailing. I was absolutely
paranoid to sail more than an hour from port and constantly watched the skies.
That is no way to live or enjoy a boat. Its been 17 years since I have been
out enjoying the water.
The dream has never died and the paranoia has largely subsided. I no longer
want to hide under the bed or run to the basement every time I hear thunder.
I had decided on a trawler long ago because I know there is no way I am going
back to a blow boat where I have to deal with sails or be ready to go out in
the cockpit should the autopilot not keep up.
I need no lecture on the probability of lightning striking vs what I do on the
boat to protect myself nor do I need someone telling me that what I am doing
is worthless. For those of you who have never been hit, there is a large
psychological side to recovery. My chances of being struck by lightning in
the cockpit are just about the same as in the pilothouse but the psychological
difference in my brain is very large. I am sure I will be paranoid in the
cockpit but feel all warm and fuzzy in the pilothouse. Better yet if someone
else can take the helm, being down in the cabin is even more comforting. I
think that I can handle it in a trawler now but no way in a sailboat.
We will find out as my boat is nearly finished and I plan on doing the loop
starting in Florida in late March.
_______________________________________________
http://lists.samurai.com/mailman/listinfo/trawler-world-list
To Unsubscribe send email to
Include the word "Unsubscribe" (and nothing else) in the subject or body of the message.
