On Sun, 23 Nov 2008 09:28:23 -0500, "Roger Long"
wrote:

wrote

(His usual putting words in the OP's mouth and then turning his words into
an attack on the OP's competence.)

Where did I say LIS was benign? I said there are 28 foot boats that
shouldn't sail across it. Sounds like you would agree.

(Rogers usual putting words in other people's mouths)


I'll agree though, is would have been a clearer post to just say "the
harbor". The issue isn't the conditions, I've seen similar in Maine, but
the fact that the area is small enough that you can pick your weather and
seek shelter which isn't always possible going around the NJ shore.

Based on the above, you could be ripe for a very bad surprise on the
LIS. You don't often get more than a few minutes warning that a "fist
of fury" is about to hit you. There is no such thing as finding a safe
refuge.

In the summer months, virtually every weather forecast includes a
warning about thunder storms. They are small and localized in area,
but often pack a huge wallop. Last June, We were caught out in a
string of them. There was no way to get around them, as they formed a
wall coming at us. My warning was whenj I looked on the western
horizon and saw that familiar (to me) low dark line. We had been
loafing along in about 6-8 knots of breeze. We immediately struck
sails and tied everything down tight. Locked the lockers, clipped in,
and donned lifejackets. Within 15 minutes of seeing that line on the
horizon, we were knocked down twice by winds in excess of 60 knots and
6-7 foot seas that were confused to say the least. There was lightning
striking all around the boat, and at several points we had no
steerage, as we couldn't make way. We were passengers. Everytime there
was a break, we headed out towards the middle to gain some room.

The USCG announced the oncoming cells on VHF AFTER we had been hit.

We later learned that a beachgoer had been killed by lightning on
shore just opposite of our position. He was under a pavilion at a
state beach and the pavilion got hit.