posted 08-03-2003 12:07 AM ET (US)        

The St Pete reporter also knows nothing. Think about all the incorrect and even false reports that are in the papers. The danger period is the 30 minutes before the storm, not after. The sail boat mast is also a red herring. Bradfords chest on the deck is also a red herring. It was more likely the reaching for the dock that exposed him although rubber soles on deck might have helped some.

Read on for personally witnessed and accurately reported incidents.

Four incidents:

1) About 35 years ago we were fishing in the Chesapeake Bay near shore just off Lynhaven Inlet which is w/in sight of Virginia Beach. Saw a single lightning strike South toward Va Beach. The bolt came literally out of the blue because conditions suggested storm potential in 45 to 60 minutes. We leisurely loaded the boat and our forecast of storm arrival in about an hour was pretty close. Report later was that 12 year old daughter of Va governor was killed by the lone strike while walking with a man on the beach. Why did it hit the child rather than the man? Why that person of all those on the beach? As Forrest Gump said, ".... happens".

2) Following year we sat through a "shake your teeth" electrical storm in the Sakonnet in same general area. No problem. The Sakonnet came well grounded including the pipe/tunnel through the deck for rigging, all rails, and the battery all with heavy wire to a ground plate on the transom.

3)Couple of years ago we were on beach on Masonboro Island, S of Masonboro Inlet at Wrightsville, NC. My son was surfing so could see the storm coming from behind the rest of us on the beach. Surfers never get enough. Heavy rain struck before we could get off the beach and walk about a city block across the island. Good four inches of water in the Montauk. Rain eased as we made 15 minute run to Bridge Tender dock a half block from the Wildlife ramp. Truck and trailer were about two blocks from the dock. By the time we got to the house and the truck all Hell broke out. Son was waiting with boat at the ramp. Wife was having fits for me to go to get him. Held out that loading boat in very active, very local electrical storm was foolish risk for all involved. Son was unhappy that he was cold, wet, and abandoned to the storm, but disbelieving of danger.

4) One week later, on Falls Lake about ten miles from Raleigh (our home port), a threatening, but not active, electrical storm flushed some boaters off the water. As one man was stepping from boat to dock an early strike (see (1) above) killed him instantly. Burns on his cap indicated that his head was contact point.

Anyone who wants to run to the dock/ramp in an electrical storm, go for it. Been there, seen that I'll take my much better chances on the water.

Oh by the way, the '87 Montauk has no grounding. Anyone know why?