St elmos fire

[cappy]

one of the most mind blowing experiences at sea was coming north with a cargo of grain last port fremantle that is a long haul .....in the tropics sea like glass.... it was a warm night stars shining like little moons ...when the full masts housings stays handrails all appeared in the momentous light ....it was a almost fearsome sight ...the american much used term awsome comes to mind ....most hands were coming out to see it many had seen it before those like me were mystified .....it was almost supernatural
i ask others points of view on this mystical sight as it is surely a sight that stays with you most of your life ......ancient seaman must have thought the end was nigh ,,,,,,any views on this from ex seaman would be greatly appreciated ....please i kindly ask no one to copy and paste on St elmos..... just the views of folk who have seen the wonders of St elmos fire kind regards cappy

[Captain Kong]

I was on Focsle head lookout in the Bay of Biscay around 1958 when the foremast and yard and stay all lit up like a flaming cross.
Never seen it before or since in 45 years at sea.
A most strange and amazing sight. lasted about 15 minutes.
Brian

[cappy]

I was on Focsle head lookout in the Bay of Biscay around 1958 when the foremast and yard and stay all lit up like a flaming cross.
Never seen it before or since in 45 years at sea.
A most strange and amazing sight. lasted about 15 minutes.
Brian

well brian it is surely a site never to be forgotten.....almost biblical ....and certainly a bit of apprehension to a 17 year old ....loooking back what a youth we had at sea ....good and bad .....but what a learning curve ..regards cappy

[j.sabourn]

Are you referring to the phosphorous effect of the sea water being reflected in the tropics Cappy or are you much further north and referring to the Northern Lights. ? Think you are referring to St. Elmo’s lights. Seen when weather conditions are right and are due to reflection and refraction of light undergoing various changes of properties.
The northern lights are sometimes put down to the reflection and refraction of light off the Northern ice. JS

Another phenomena often seen about the Red Sea area was distant shipping on the horizon appearing to,be sailing upside down , a mirage , if in the Sahara would be expected but to see at sea made you think perhaps you were drinking too much. JS

[cappy]

Are you referring to the phosphorous effect of the sea water being reflected in the tropics Cappy or are you much further north and referring to the Northern Lights. ? Think you are referring to St. Elmo’s lights. Seen when met, conditions are right and are due to reflection and refraction of light undergoing various changes of properties.
The northern lights are sometimes put down to the reflection and refraction of light off the Northern ice. JS

sSt elmos john ......have seen the northern lights many times in shields and even in yorkshire......but this light of St elmos covering as you know all standing parts in a mystical light as said a bit disturbing ,,,,but never forgotten .....regards cappy

[j.sabourn]

Maybe the leckies on board could explain more as no doubt the earths magnetic field and its electric properties will have some input to the lights. The earth is just one big magnet and no doubt will have something to say if it gets disturbed. Stick a piece of steel in the place of a carbon brush in an electric motor and see the sparks fly, not only from the lecky either. JS.

[cappy]

Are you referring to the phosphorous effect of the sea water being reflected in the tropics Cappy or are you much further north and referring to the Northern Lights. ? Think you are referring to St. Elmo’s lights. Seen when met, conditions are right and are due to reflection and refraction of light undergoing various changes of properties.
The northern lights are sometimes put down to the reflection and refraction of light off the Northern ice. JS

Another phenomena often seen about the Red Sea area was distant shipping on the horizon appearing to,be sailing upside down , a mirage , if in the Sahara would be expected but to see at sea made you think perhaps you were drinking too much. JS

saw a similar thing driving down to southern spain john ...on the plains heading for madrid steaming hot ...saw skyscrapers in the sky nd houses all upside down ....when only flat land as far as we could see.....ps at that time was giving the wine a walloping lol cappy

[michael hooper]

was on the samala an old elders and fyffes banana boat.we were in the caribbean heading for jamaica when we encountered an electrical storm .it was night and calm except for the lightning,the masts the shrouds and all the other rigging started glowing.we had never seen anything like it .someone said it was st,elmos fire.never saw anything like it again for the rest of my time at sea.

[Ivan Cloherty]

And don't forget the green flash on a clear night when the sun's upper limb passes beneath the horizon at twilight

[Michael Black]

And don't forget the green flash on a clear night when the sun's upper limb passes beneath the horizon at twilight

Observed this a few times when on the 8-12 watch, also the auroa australis (think that's what they're called in the southern Indian Ocean) but never experienced St Elmos fire,must be quite an experience.
Regards Michael