Preventative measures
Head for safety
When storm clouds gather, head for shore. The worst place to be is on the open water where your boat is the tallest lightning rod around. Drop anchor in shelter if you can.
Beware of metal
The cockpit is one of the most dangerous places in a yacht because of its metal parts. If you have one, engage the autopilot rather than steering by hand. During a lightning strike, high voltages could zap a skipper if, for example, he or she has one hand on a metal steering wheel and the other on the metal engine controls or the lifelines.
Avoid the mast down below
When below, stay away from the mast-to-keel area. That’s the primary route of the lightning seeking a place to exit.
Stay away from the water
Avoid any connection between yourself and the water. Your body is a better conductor than air, so lightning will think your body is the easier route making you a human lightning rod. If you enter the water, electrocution is highly probable if lightning strikes nearby.
Go below
If you do see lightning too close for comfort, go below. That gets you away from the metal in the cockpit. You also don’t want to be at the mast during the lightning storm. The places on deck to avoid most are directly beneath the mast or the boom.
Try a little radio
An old boater’s trick is to turn on an AM (not FM) radio to listen for static. Small, cheap portable battery powered radios are best. The louder the static the closer the storm. It will also indicate if there’s an electrical charge building around your boat.
Drop the sails
Get sails down early and furled to avoid the sudden, intense winds at the leading edge of a squall, which will be associated with strong winds and waves, heavy rain, and even hail.
Don’t get in the tender
Being on a large yacht with a mast is much safer than being in a small unprotected yacht, so choose to stay on the bigger boat rather than hightailing it to land in the dinghy.
Get your boat inspected
If your boat’s been hit by lightning have it hauled out for inspection immediately. Many insurers cover a short-haul, and some do not charge a deductible against this coverage. Seeing where the lightning came out is critical and can help avoid a catastrophic failure down the line.