: The 2 am NOAA coastal report said nothing about possible
: thunderstorms. Thunderstorms, even slight chance, are NO GOs for
: me.

: I launched at 6:25am from King Harbor (Santa Monica Bay, Cal) and
: paddled out. At about 7:45 it started to rain. I love paddling
: in the rain, big fat drops--it was wonderful. I started shooting
: video. Then I heard thunder. Uh-oh.
: I turned on my radio to NOAA weather, and reluctantly started to
: turn around.
: NOAA: Possible thunderstorms, then on the next cycle a few minutes
: later, frequent thunderstorms increasing through the afternoon.
: This is what is now on their web report:
: ISOLATED TSTMS. STORM CELLS ARE LIKELY
: TO PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING...LOCALLY STRONG WINDS...HIGHER
: WAVES AND HEAVY RAIN.

: On my way in I saw a group of paddlers heading out, all shoulder-no
: power (indication of low level of experience) so I caught up
: with them and told them the report. Shrug, ah, thanks.
: Further in, stand up paddle boarders (and I was feeling kinda naked
: and at risk 30" above the water!) I told them. Ah thanks.

: At the launch dock, at least 30 people launching kayaks, paddle
: boards, a couple of fishermen (they weren't leaving the marina)
: some in pairs, most seemed to be in one commercial rental group.
: I told them. I wasn't telling them to get off the water, I just
: told them thunderstorms, they were already in the area, more
: were coming, if there's even a chance there's a chance of
: lightning--even if you don't see it, and that I headed in
: because it's an unnecessary risk.
: Total group think. One guy who seemed like a leader, but when I
: asked, 'Is this your group' said 'no', announced 'If you see
: lightning, lay down on your boards."
: Everyone had gone to the beach excited because there were reports
: of whales, they were in their gear, momentum and inertia. Almost
: everyone I spoke to looked around at other members of their
: group, and they really didn't shrug, but they ignored the
: information. They looked for group reassurance when the group
: didn't the situation any more than they did.

: What I think I picked up on is: 1. They didn't want to know because
: 2. part of their brains understood exactly what I was telling
: them but 3. they didn't want to change their plans, and 4.
: they're probably going to get away with it. (I certainly hope
: so.)
: Do I think they're going to be struck by lightning? The chances are
: probably extremely low. I don't see the big metal buoys pitted
: with lightning marks.
: I think I understand the mindset. When I paddled out I was going
: into a 10 knot wind on my port quarter and it was turning me.
: When the rain started the wind disappeared and the drops on the
: water were gorgeous. Paddling became easy, I was feeling good.
: The first group of kayakers said that whales had been spotted, I
: want to go see the whales.... And I was on the water more than
: an hour with thunder booming in the distance and I didn't see
: any lightning. If I hadn't made the effort to learn safety it
: would be easy to assume the risk was so low as to be none
: existent, and that I was safe. (One guy said, 'Good thing I've
: got a plastic paddle.' I said 'my carbon fiber shaft is an
: excellent conductor and were sitting in salt water.' He said,
: 'this is also carbon. I didn't think of that,' and him and his
: buddy still went out.)

: Maybe I should shut up and just wear the neoprene gloves I used to
: connect the drop from the pole on a construction site, and get
: in the middle of a group of stand up paddle boarders (aka
: lightning rods).....

: Will

Better off the water with lightning about. A strike doesn't just effect the spot it hits (actually jumps from), it has a "blast radius" which is variable. Same happens on land. I've seen cows gone down from a near strike. It's a hell of a lot of energy to dump, it ain't going into a tiny spot. And I don't think the neo electricians gloves would cut it at megavolt levels. ;)

Mike Savage
South West Cork