LL>A National Yacht Club boat, Damsel, sunk after being hit by lighning
LL>during a race only this week. One of its crew was taken to hospital. I'm
LL>afraid I don't have more details than that at this time.
Was this on Tuesday?  Is the crew alright now?  What type of boat is
(was) Damsel?
At TS&CC we had winds of 45 knots (or so) at about 1910.  Most of our
boats had returned to harbour.  (The RC had the good sense to shorten
the course.)  We had a couple of people run into the dock as the wind
hit becasue they were trying to sail into the mooring at just the
wrong time, a dinghy was blocking the mooring.  One boat, a Gilbert 25,
Nasty Rumours, didn't have enough power to motor into her mooring
against the wind (head on).  They tied to our potoon boat and they
wraped the line around the prop when they cast off.  The problem was
compounded when the skipper tried to "unwind" the line by running the
boat in reverse.  Engine jamed and now will not restart in neutral.
Also his car was stolen (from his house).  All in all, not a good day
for him.
However, being struck by lightning is much worse.  Kinda puts all other
thing in perspective.
Robert Rayfield - TS&CC - Toronto
 * OLX 2.1 TD * Sailing, sailing, over the bounding seas.........
 * S2S Toronto, Ontario  (416) 975-1547
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