Lightning strikes

.​In an intense lightning storm in Kalamata on Tuesday afternoon we were struck by lightning whilst at our berth.  180 boats and random electricity chooses us to earth on. No damage to crew but boat wounded. Strong smell of burning plastic and after the storm abated we were able to start inspecting the damage. No shorepower, engine electronics and a small red box called a Sterling voltage sensitive relay now a molten box of plastic and semi conductors. Later we found additional damage to all of our navigation equipment and the boat’s stereo. Still going through electrical circuits to discover faults around the boat and I expect sorting it out will be a slow process. Luckily we have a good local electrician and the insurers are being proactive but lots to do and only a week before we go home. Sailing obviously over for the trip as currently we have no engine and no navigation. Electrical strikes on boats (especially in marinas) are rare but I think we suffered an air strike rather than the full works. It was enough to completely destroy the VHF masthead aerial, just little bits of copper wire strewn across the deck the morning after. The rigging is being inspected for damage tomorrow. If there can be any consolation it is that we were struck whilst on our berth: if this had happened at an isolated anchorage somewhere it would have been ten times worse...


After four trouble-free years of Med sailing we have had our fair share of problems this year, defunct and expensive instrument replacement, being ripped off for boat servicing in Lefkas and now boom, electrical damage all around.  At least the smell of burning has gone away...
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Update: The surveyor and electrician are working their way through the boat and the list of electronic replacements grows longer. The insurance company are working their way through this and hopefully Lyra will be restored to full working order before we return to her in early September.

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