Fulminology.

The study or science of lightning.

Last night, a fierce electrical storm hit Sydney, bringing with it a spectacular lightning display.

Now, don't get me wrong, from the confines of one's 'house' - I love a good electrical storm. It's fearsome and thrilling.

..it's just that, when you're on water, um, with a dirty great metal ROD sticking up into the sky practically inviting the strike, one tends to become, um, slightly nervous....

Travelling into the dusty crevices of my mind, I recall water and metal (and people!) being excellent conductors of electricity - a pretty shit combination for us seeing as though or boat is metal. and is floating. on water.

But, in this morning's study of fulminology, it appears that being in a metal yacht - as opposed to a timber or fibreglass one - is actually better in a lightning strike. Apparently, the metal, being such a good conductor, acts as a 'faraday cage' so that the electricity (typically a billion volts per strike) travels down the mast and around the hull to the 'ground' (in our case, the water), leaving us safe and calm inside. (?!)

Good to know.