Handheld VHF and GPS - when they really Matter..
When the Spirit of South Carolina was hit by lightning in New England recently, it was the separately stored handheld GPS which kept their navigation going, and the handheld VHF and mobile phone which stood them in good stead.
'Spirit of South Carolina in calmer waters'
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As reported by Captain Tony Arrow, at approximately 3:00 PM on Sunday, July 27, the Spirit of South Carolina was off the east coast of Block Island when a strong line of squalls approached.
The ship was struck by lightning, disabling most of the electronics onboard and the engine power which is controlled by electronic components. There were no injuries to passengers or crew. At the time of the bright blast the ship was operating in heavy weather mode with passengers down below and everything battened down while keeping a close eye on traffic.
Other vessels in the same area were also struck by lightning. The Spirit of South Carolina is equipped with substantial lightning protection as well as surge protection in the electrical system.
The ship was conducting an open enrollment program out of Newport, Rhode Island at the time of this incident, with twelve passengers onboard, primarily from South Carolina, plus its regular crew of nine.
"We had lightning all around us and all of a sudden there was a big, bright blast and I knew it had hit the ship," said Captain Arrow. "We lost radios, GPS, and engines but thankfully were well prepared for the situation with a handheld GPS, handheld VHF radio and mobile phones."
Following the intense blow, Captain Arrow and his crew assessed the situation and found that although the ship's huge wooden hull appeared to be uncompromised, they immediately called a PAN-PAN message to the U.S. Coast Guard, making them aware of the ship's location and the current state of lost electronics and engine power.
A Coast Guard vessel came to the ship to standby for temporary assistance and kept in close communication with the vessel overnight. The ship is currently awaiting a tow to the Newport Shipyard in Newport, Rhode Island. All of the passengers onboard have been transferred off the vessel as today was the planned return of the voyage.
by Torreson Marine/Sail-World 
Margaret River or Osborne Park (severne shop), WA
