STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20556, 6 May 1930, Page 10

STRUCK BY LIGHTNING.

YACHT BADLY DAMAGED.: INCIDENT DURING STORM, Considerable damage was caused by lightning to the first-.class keel yacht Nga Toa, owned by Mr. G. Winstone, junior, while at her moorings in Stanley Bay, during the electrical storm last week. The damage was not discovered until Saturday afternoon, when the crew embarked preparatory to going for a cruise. Mr. Owen Winstone, a member of the crew, said that as they were approaching the yacht they noticed that the rigging had L i f n carried away, .and a plank just below the starboard chain plates had been badly broken. It was thought at first that there had been a collision, but on going on board they saw a hole about 4in. round on the port side of the deck, near the chain plates, and closer investigation showed that the damage had been caused by lightning. 1 The planks on the port side were also splintered below the chain plates by the lightning, which came down the backstay and splintered the deck. It had also come down the forest ay and along the bobstay to the waterline, splintering the planks. The stays made of wire ropo were badly fused. In tho cabin the lightning wrenched a door off a locker, "and splintered tho wood. The yacht is fitted with electric light and all the wires wore fused, while chinaware in the locker was shattered. The yacht has been laid up f° r winter and will need several new ribs »ud planks.