How far were you out? Could you have released your forestay and then righted your boat and paddled in with the mast lying on the boat? I think you could get the boat righted with no mast, but not sure. It might be better than spending the night on the water.

I hate to even think of the lightning thing. That stuff is so unpredictable and no one has survived a direct hit. Even indirect hits on land have killed people. I just hope no one ever finds out what will happen.

Matt