Carl Roberts posted this on the old forum, so I am copying it over to here:
The only way to avoid lightning is to sail into the beach before the storm approaches and seek shelter.
My Favorite gadget for catsailors in lightning storms is --{jokingly per old w-1000 racers} --
is to attach two aligator clips with a wire lead to your rear end and hang it over the side .
Have to get a pic of that appliance and post it ,
Maybe a new item for the store !!
Have fun
Carl
I must add to what Carl said. The theory has always been that if you attach a wire with an alligator clip to one of your stays and drag the wire in the water, when and if your mast gets hit by lightning, the electrical current is going to be led down the mast to the stay and down the stay to the wire that is dragging and will discharge harmlessly into the water.
This sounds logical in theory, but somehow it no longer seems like such a good idea when you are surrounded by lightning and you know you have made your boat into an inviting target.
