Sailing Contessa 26 Cavendysh offshore through lightning

[@Setforsea]

Thanks for watching! Yeah, yikes. It can be pretty terrifying to be at sea in a lightning storm. A direct hit is completely unpredictable. It could cause no noticeable damage, or it could blow holes in the hull and sink the boat. More than likely, it will kill electronics not protected in a Faraday cage.

[@Setforsea]

Hi, and thanks for the tip. My reading on the subject seems to indicate that it probably won't hurt, though there are some who argue that running a conductor next to the hull like that will encourage sideflashes. I have put dedicated cables in the water from my shrouds before, and my current boat has a proper grounding system. Cheers.

[@Lurkur]

Love your videos, I'm planing to buy a contessa 26 in few years and sail it from UK to Iceland :)

[@Setforsea]

Hi Heraldur- Thanks very much for the kind words. I think that you'll love the Contessa 26! I miss mine all the time (moved on to a slightly larger boat). Sounds like you have an adventurous voyage planned. Looking forward to seeing some video of the trip to Iceland if you post it. Smooth seas to you... --Barry

[@LeonardSkinnerOfficial]

There are few boats in the 24 to 30 foot range that can handle the ocean like the Contessa 26 :-) Thanks for sharing :-)

[@Setforsea]

+Faoin Spéir The Contessa 26 is a wonderful little boat that I thoroughly enjoyed sailing even in challenging conditions. Thanks for your comment!

[@vjrail3175]

What do you have for a dinghy? And what is the sail set up for storms? If there is a roller furling, then is there an option for a storm sail? Or is it needed? Do you just roll in the genoa a bit?

[@Setforsea]

VJ Rail, hi! Sorry to take so long to reply, but internet is spotty where I am currently sailing. At the time of that video, I used a small soft-floor inflatable dinghy, which I stored below when not in use. I had no roller furling, but just changed sails when required. The working job was good for a wide range of wind speeds, but if it was less than 10 I’d put out the genoa. I never had to use the storm job on that boat. The few times I was out in more than a solid 25 knots I was either running or it was a short squall. I just dropped the jib for the squalls if it really began to blow. She would take quite a bit of breeze with a double reefed main and the working jib or storm jib.

[@toosinbeymen6304]

Yikes. Nothing scares me more than sailing in lightening. Squalls are one thing but getting hit by a lightening strike, well, it probably wouldn't be pretty. Or do I have that wrong?

[@glenswada]

Wouldn't hurt to attach wire to rigging that can be thrown overboard into sea during storms as electricity always seeks path of least resistance.

[@fuquplz9983]

I have a contesssa

[@Setforsea]

Nice! They are great boats. :)