: The 2 am NOAA coastal report said nothing about possible
: thunderstorms. Thunderstorms, even slight chance, are NO GOs for
: me.

: I launched at 6:25am from King Harbor (Santa Monica Bay, Cal) and
: paddled out. At about 7:45 it started to rain. I love paddling
: in the rain, big fat drops--it was wonderful. I started shooting
: video. Then I heard thunder. Uh-oh.
: I turned on my radio to NOAA weather, and reluctantly started to
: turn around.
: NOAA: Possible thunderstorms, then on the next cycle a few minutes
: later, frequent thunderstorms increasing through the afternoon.
: This is what is now on their web report:
: ISOLATED TSTMS. STORM CELLS ARE LIKELY
: TO PRODUCE FREQUENT LIGHTNING...LOCALLY STRONG WINDS...HIGHER
: WAVES AND HEAVY RAIN.

: On my way in I saw a group of paddlers heading out, all shoulder-no
: power (indication of low level of experience) so I caught up
: with them and told them the report. Shrug, ah, thanks.
: Further in, stand up paddle boarders (and I was feeling kinda naked
: and at risk 30" above the water!) I told them. Ah thanks.

: At the launch dock, at least 30 people launching kayaks, paddle
: boards, a couple of fishermen (they weren't leaving the marina)
: some in pairs, most seemed to be in one commercial rental group.
: I told them. I wasn't telling them to get off the water, I just
: told them thunderstorms, they were already in the area, more
: were coming, if there's even a chance there's a chance of
: lightning--even if you don't see it, and that I headed in
: because it's an unnecessary risk.
: Total group think. One guy who seemed like a leader, but when I
: asked, 'Is this your group' said 'no', announced 'If you see
: lightning, lay down on your boards."
: Everyone had gone to the beach excited because there were reports
: of whales, they were in their gear, momentum and inertia. Almost
: everyone I spoke to looked around at other members of their
: group, and they really didn't shrug, but they ignored the
: information. They looked for group reassurance when the group
: didn't the situation any more than they did.

: What I think I picked up on is: 1. They didn't want to know because
: 2. part of their brains understood exactly what I was telling
: them but 3. they didn't want to change their plans, and 4.
: they're probably going to get away with it. (I certainly hope
: so.)
: Do I think they're going to be struck by lightning? The chances are
: probably extremely low. I don't see the big metal buoys pitted
: with lightning marks.
: I think I understand the mindset. When I paddled out I was going
: into a 10 knot wind on my port quarter and it was turning me.
: When the rain started the wind disappeared and the drops on the
: water were gorgeous. Paddling became easy, I was feeling good.
: The first group of kayakers said that whales had been spotted, I
: want to go see the whales.... And I was on the water more than
: an hour with thunder booming in the distance and I didn't see
: any lightning. If I hadn't made the effort to learn safety it
: would be easy to assume the risk was so low as to be none
: existent, and that I was safe. (One guy said, 'Good thing I've
: got a plastic paddle.' I said 'my carbon fiber shaft is an
: excellent conductor and were sitting in salt water.' He said,
: 'this is also carbon. I didn't think of that,' and him and his
: buddy still went out.)

: Maybe I should shut up and just wear the neoprene gloves I used to
: connect the drop from the pole on a construction site, and get
: in the middle of a group of stand up paddle boarders (aka
: lightning rods).....

: Will

Lightning on the water can be extremely dangerous, obviously you know that. The mindset (or lack of it) of many paddlers is what gets them frequently in trouble and why there are deaths in this sport fairly often. Can't cure stupid.

Bill H.