Yesterday afternoon was a prime example, with lightning seen around the fringes of Lake Winnipesaukee, light rain, and no hint of thunder. I've seen it reported that lightning can reach out 30 miles from a storm, which is well within Winni range of what could be seen yesterday. It's surprising that sailboats, with their metal masts, aren't struck with every storm.
Lightning often retraces its own ionized track several times in an eyeblink.
Especially if you're the only boat out on Winni, does the partially ionized trail of a boat's exhaust gases provide a ionized trail for lightning to follow?
I think Glove did the right thing, too. But more importantly, it would be better to scan the skies for typical "boomers", especially if you can't hear anything while boating.
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