Wayne.B wrote:
On Wed, 12 Nov 2008 17:20:21 -0800 (PST), wrote:
The anecdotal evidence is flawed because its conclusoin is based on
an observation without comprehensive study of what connected to that
boat, the content of soil beneath that boat, where the boat was
located in relation to earthed charges, etc.
OK, let me ask you this: 300 miles offshore in more than 5,000 feet
of salt water, lightning decides to strike a nearby wave top instead
of the well grounded 80 ft mast of an all aluminum boat.
Why?
Butterflies Wings or in this case, probably dust particles or rain
drops. The initial ionisation of the air immediatly below the leader of
the stroke is dependent on field strength but field strength in most
stuations falls off with the square of the distance so a rain drop of
lets say 3 mm diameter a meter from the tip of the leader has more
influence than that mast 100 metres away.
Its only if you have sharp enough edges and enough field strength to get
local ionisation on the rigging, St Elmo's fire being the extreme
example, that the difference between an 80 ft mast and a 8 ft wave
becomes significant. Waves dont have sharp edges . . .
--
Ian Malcolm. London, ENGLAND. (NEWSGROUP REPLY PREFERRED)
ianm[at]the[dash]malcolms[dot]freeserve[dot]co[dot]uk
[at]=@, [dash]=- & [dot]=. *Warning* HTML & 32K emails -- NUL:
'Stingo' Albacore #1554 - 15' Early 60's, Uffa Fox designed,
All varnished hot moulded wooden racing dinghy.