Windsurfing on Hold
I have a Filipino Friend that loves to wind surf. We’ve tried together several times but something always gets in the way. About a month ago, he told me it was the lightning season now and he sent his sail in for repairs. I didn’t 
know what he meant by lightning season. I had never heard that term before. Jessie, my Filipina girlfriend also didn’t know of the term but she recognizes it as valid. She said “Maybe I was taking it for granted.”
I was here last year at this time and remember a lot of lightning. When we go to the bay of Bogo at night there is almost a lightning show going on or even when sitting on our terrace at night, we see the sky light up nearly every night.
It certainly is pretty but I understand my friends hesitancy to grab a metal pole in the water! I worry about our Philippine monkey as she is in a metal cage. Its well shielded from the weather but lightning can certainly jump around. If I remember right, concrete will serve as a conductor too, so a direct hit would not be required. At the same time, hopefully the concrete will serve as a ground. However, I’d enjoy comments on this as I’m not at all sure.
I enjoy watching weather, I just returned to my computer.. I noted the wind coming up so I told Jessie “I’m going outside.” She said “I knew you were going to say that.”
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Tagged with: Philippine Weather • Windsurfing
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Hi Rusty – nah, concrete is an insulator. No worries about Juliet, she is well protected where she is.
The reason I thought it was a conductor is that I saw a show on Discover or some such channel where someone got zapped while lying down on cement. It does seem like there was more to it than that but that it did travel through the cement. Confused.
Hmmmm, concrete or cement? She’s on cement, not concrete, I think?
Depends on if it is wet also. The concrete itself may not conduct but the water in it will.
As would pipes the sheer amount of voltage in lightening.
I’m trying to recall that show I saw, seems like they even looked into we content of the concrete but they did find it was going through the concrete, at least that’s what I recall. One’s memory can play games with them.
Concrete absorbs water. Since the cage is under the porch it is probably ok but if you are nervous about that you can always put rubber mats under the corners.
Hi Rusty. Nice new site eh.
Cement is what you buy in the hardware store. Concrete is the product after cement is mixed with sand, gravel and water. I am actually in the middle of a concrete fence construction right now because it is still “lightning” season.
I tend to agree with MIndanao Bob. While concrete has steel reinforcing bars inside, concrete itself is a poor conductor of electricity. Your pet is safe, I believe. I had researched a lot about lightnings before when we used to go windsurfing during lightning season. While the carbon fiber masts (or pole) of a windsurfer is a poor conductor of electricity, it pays to be safe sometimes. We may not be in danger by direct hit but falling on the water unconscious is not a good idea.
I got the sail already from Boracay and it looks virgin again. I think the lightning season is almost over because it was windy this afternoon and I didnt notice any lightning. I wasnt able to try the sail to the beach, however, because I was drunk last night and I feel my balance today is not that good. I will go to the beach for certain tomorrow, weather permits.
Glad you’re here!
Glad you’re happy with the repaired sail. Ii told Jessie the other day I doubt I can handle wind surfing as badly as I want to try it. So I probably will, at least a little.
Jessie said good, cause wants to learn and that would give her more time. LOL
Still have lightening up this way but the wind was sure nice today. Cooled things off a lot! Felt good outside.
Drunk? And didn’t invite me? :LOL
You know on that documentary, the person was laying on the concrete which contributed to the situation that and I think some nearby water pipes. that’s probably why there was a documentary about it, cause it was so unusual. It may have been an unsolved mystery, I think it was some kind f show like that.
Hope you have fun, let us know how it goes.
Just came from the beach and probably the lightning season for this part of the year is coming to an end. There was a good breeze, around 10-12 knots. Though it is really not enough to keep planing (board skimming on top of the water), nevertheless, I did have some moments of it.
What I was after actually is to test the sail and check if it still feels the same. Well, actually, it feels even more powerful. I think the new monofilm is more stable and holds the foil shape well than the brittle parts that got replaced. I was just blasting back and forth for three hours and my arms are pretty tired tonight.
It was a plus though that there is still good wind in May. Normally, I wouldn’t go to the beach at this time of the year but I was very fortunate this weekend.
We still have lightening here. I remembered commented to Jessie once that there was less lightening than there use to be. That was a few months back. I didn’t know there was a lightening season but that sure makes sense from what I’ve seen.
Glad you had fun and the work on the sail turned out well!
Yes, having a sport that relies on the weather really changes your perspective about nature. For example, whenever I see trees swaying, my heart beats faster. LOL.
Lightning season is just a windsurfing parlance, normal folks do not know it even exists because it does nothing to them. Sailors, however, are very aware of it. Actually, when I look up the sky whenever I have plans to go to the beach, I always check for signs of what the weather will be. I bet you don’t know that if the sky is red in the morning, weather is not good during the rest of the day.
There was an old sailor’s saying that goes: “Red skies in the morning – sailor’s warning; red skies at night (the night before) – sailor’s delight.”
Next time you are at the beach, try to check for cloud streets (clouds that are aligned, with the same size) because it tells that there’s a strong wind that aligned it. Clouds producing lightning are anvil-shaped. There’s a lot of signs out there that are used by sailors during the ancient times, long before the instruments and satellites nowadays but well, unless you rely on the weather for whatever reason, you don’t really need to know. LOL
Anyway, I’ll keep you posted. My friends went to Tuburan last Sunday but I wasnt able to tag along because my gf had a medical mission in Talisay. I scheduled a plan to go to Tuburan, tentatively this June, when there will be holiday.
It does appear the lightening season is ending in Bogo too. Just got home from the BBQ and no lightening any where around tonight.
I know that old saying, can never remember what it is exactly. I can’t remember my right from my left unless I think about which hand I wear my watch on, but I decided a watch was just more stress that I got rid of several years ago. LOL I think that means I’m a genus right?
Wonder why I haven’t come up with any theories to enhance E=MC2 
The lightening season is pretty. I flew over some thunderstorms last night on my way to Bangkok.
I guess I just got really unlucky when I first flew 30 years ago. My first five flights or so were horrible. Plane pitching back and forth. But I was in Southeast USA, partly within Tornado Ally, perhaps when the thunderheads are over 50 thousand feet there’s just no way to fly over them as I did last night.
what did you bring us from Bangkok? I never knew there is a lightning season in the Philippines…I know there is the moonson from June to December…otherwise known as rainy season or “bagyo” time and fun time if you are a kid. I did have a good time when there is a typhoon when I was young… that means…a lot of bananas to eat, fruits on the ground to be picked up even if these are not are in your property, young coconuts, a ride on a coconut trunk, sweet fresh coconut pit to eat…and yum…they are good to eat just by itself and not made into lumpia. also water overflows the canal..not the city canal where its yucky and dirty…I am talking the rice paddy canals before insecticide was introduced… and we had a sailboat contest using paper and broomsticks and so many other fun things…. then, NO SCHOOL… the best part
there are a lot of fun when you don’t know the effects like what adults see with their eyes. Blackouts, no fresh fish at the wet market, no voyage for the ferryboats, a lot of things that we do not care when we are young kids.
Yeah, those were the days Terry. Believe it or not, I actually miss the Phil typhoon seasons. At least it is not cold when the wind blows. Not like here, at the moment it is cold and wet because it’s been raining for 2 days. We call the “cyclone season” here what you would call “Typhoon season in PI”. funny, I’ve forgotten a lot of the Filipino/American terminologies!
The Antipodeans (that’s us) has their own terminologies and phrases too, even word phrases, and yet it’s exactly the same English, just pronounced differently. Isn’t language interesting?
Terry, what did I bring back from Bangkok? I’ll show it to you when you get here…
…and what did you bring for me Rusty? 4 weeks left and I’ll be knockin’ on your door
oh, and I like my snake medium rare, cat can be lechon, the way Bob likes it
I brought you a snake but you’ll have to find it.
I thought you’re gonna cook that snake for me? And I like me lechon Iring (roast cat) brown and crunchy, the way Bob likes it.
I don’t really like lechon much. I’m not sure I’m gonna let you any where near my snake…. You’re dangerous, if its not knifes, it’s fire!
Are you being “bastos walang galang” again Rusty? And where did this knife thing come from? and the fire? Are you getting me mixed up with somone????
Nope not mixed up, you said you were going to cook my snake.
I am never not naughty so it is impossible for me to be naughty AGAIN.
On second thoughts, I think I will leave your snake alone. It’s probably not gonna be enough to go around, it might only be the species “Leptotyphlops carlae”, the world’s smallest snake, as thin as spaghetti, and only 4 inches long. Definitely barely enough for one….
Its amazing how little sausage it takes to have a party but my snake is shy anyway so its just as well.
You are simply incorrigible Rusty! I must say, Jess must be a Saint, to have so much patience for you
No, I’m the saint, that’s why she loves me. Incorrigible? why would you want to correct me when I’m already perfect?
Because you are soooo naughty sometimes (it seems most of the time really). I just hope Jess is not gonna develop stomach ulcers caused by your naughtiness…
I think you’ll find Jessie to be quite happy and calm and content.
naughty? Hmm, I thought I had a halo, whatever could you mean?
You are an incurable FLIRT!!!
There you go again, trying to change or cure perfection! Now why would I want to cure something I excel at? Find something you do well and do it often!
Actually, forget the inadequate snake, how about you cook us grit instead? I’ve heard it is nice…..?
I already told you my snake is to shy to play.
I don’t have a clue on how to make grits and I don’t like them.
You two are fun to read….hey Jessie…you got to be the referee with these two…I can’t wait so see you two together in Cebu…i wish i could go home but i have to work. keep up the fun stuff….LOL
I look forward to meeting you too!
Which one, me or Terry? you know what Filipinos would call you Rus? “I love myself”.
Hey Rus, how much is dollar exchange in the black market? it is 46/1 in western union. I am planning to send money to my father for our fiesta next Saturday (the 30th) and whether I should send dollar or in peso.
Western Union generally gives the worst exchange rate. Sometimes they give more at the window than they state online so probably better to s end in Peso and let him convert it.
I don’t know what the so called black market rate is. Its usually about a dollar more than the official rates the banks are quoting. it varies from money changer to money changer.
Sending via Western Union is expensive. you should look into RemitHome. That is what I use every month. The fee is only 8 to 10 per thousand and its quite fast. You can also put it right into his bank account. If you use the link above they will give you a $5 or $10 credit toward your fees.
The dollar seems to be headed down against most currencies including the Peso so you might be better off sending sooner rather than later.
If you are going to send Western Union youcan send dollars and they can exchange it elsewhere. It is more expensive but it is fast.
Christine, it also could be “nagbubuhat sa sariling upu-an”
Yeah, thanks Terry. I knew there was a Filipino equivalent to what I said – I just could not remember, other than the word – “Hambugero”! which is very Visayan.
Yeah, thanks Terry. I knew there was a Filipino equivalent to what I said – I just could not remember, other than the word – “Hambugero”! which is very Visayan. Not to be confused with the word “Hamburger” Rusty.
Looks like everybody is having fun here.
The lightning season is fading and the SW season has started (Habagat). It’s pretty early this year. It’s super windy this week!
I will be detailing this week at my blog:
http://cebuwindsurfing.blogspot.com/
How are you, Rusty?
Yesterday the wind was hot, it felt like it was the breath of a dragon!
Very breezy though. today is much better.
Adrian, aren’t you missing out on all the fun!
I checked out your website, my Camotes Island has changed a lot in 20 years. It still looked gorgeous though, hope they don’t spoil it too much.
And nice pics by the way.
They are TALKING about major”improvements” to infrastructure on Camotes. Hard to know if they will move out of the talk stage. Seems like the governor was behind it which means it will likely happen. I think the goal is to increase tourism which seems like a no-brainer.
I need to go before millions of people show up.
Yes that will spoil it quickly.
Yes. The governor plans to increase tourism in the island. I just hope they wont do too much like what happened in Boracay. Today, one of the windsurfing center owner in Boracay is fighting to stop the development of LARGE COMMERCIAL buildings in the island. The serenity of the island is fading.
Christine, thanks! Yeah, I missed the fun eh.
They have a moratorium in Bantayan Island. Its kind of complicated. Its part of an environmental act. There are regulations on where you build if I understand it but don’t fully understand.
The current resort owners seem to be in favor, of course, no more resorts is good for them.
If they plan it properly it will benefit everyone including the tourists. From what I understand they have just about ruined Boracay and are working fast to finish the job by destroying the very thing the tourists came to enjoy. .
I hear a lot of good things about Boracay.
It is unlikely that Bantayan will stay the way it is. That so few people are there is what makes it so awesome. I haven’t been to Camotes but I suspect the same is true there.
This happens every where. I remember when Beale Street in Memphis was wonderful because of the street musicians and there were so few people there. The homeless people dancing in the park to the blues was a highlight for me. Now there are too many people.. Its still nice but not like it was back in the day.
The same will likely be true of the two above places. Hard to avoid it.