Good story Stevo, glad you can still type.
I think the jury is out on the use of hand-held radios, though the radio league propeller-heads tell us to "turn them off". Certainly a stubby VHF is not as likely to be hit as a radio tower, (or your mast). However, if anyone wants to squawk on one while suspended in roiling salt water, as Thor throws his hammers,.. well, let us know how that works out. K? (Is it Zeus for us sailors?)
So where is the best location to be goosed by the god of lightning? If you believe the statisticians:
26.8% Open field, ballparks, playgrounds, etc.
13.7% Under trees
8.1% Water related, fishing, boating, swimming, etc.
2.4% Telephone-related
0.7% Radios, transmitters, antennas, etc.
(Hey, what about kite flying?)
Golfers account for around 5% of the human interactions with LEMP (lightning). You duffers may be familiar with the Lee Trevinos's quote: "If you are caught on a golf course during a storm and are afraid of lightning, hold up a 1-iron. Not even God can hit a 1-iron."
Yeah, right. So far, Trevino's been hit twice.
