Yourbestsailvideo
Storms: lightning and probability of impact
November 7, 2025 · 17 min · 2K views
What this video covers
A 14-meter sailboat faces a calculated lightning strike probability of 0.125% during a 30-minute exposure to a low-intensity storm and 0.626% during a moderate-intensity storm.▶ 13:24 These calculations assume the vessel occupies the most active zone of a storm, using a Poisson distribution to model the frequency of independent lightning strikes.▶ 10:28 The effective strike area for a sailboat is defined by a circle with a radius equal to the mast height, here estimated at 20 meters, as the mast acts as a lightning rod.▶ 6:04 In high-intensity storms, the probability of a strike increases to approximately 1.2%.▶ 13:25 Beyond the risk of direct hits, secondary discharges pose significant threats to crew safety and onboard electronics.▶ 14:10 Proper grounding systems are essential to mitigate risks of hull breaches, fires, and equipment failure.▶ 14:57 Sailors should maintain distance from metallic components and rigging during electrical storms to avoid secondary strikes.▶ 14:10
More from Yourbestsail
From Yourbestsail — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.