Lightning does not actually ever strike the ground, lightning builds up so many volts of electricity once this atmospheric voltage gets over one million volts this battery starts looking for the easiest discharge path.

This is when at ground level it is best to be under cover since whatever is the path of least resistance is the path the lightning will travel, buildings, trees, boat masts.

Even one fool who had a metal key attached to his kite. Remember old Benjamin Franklin he became so famous they even chose him as the only useful person to put on American money; since all the rest are politicians : )

/ hugz ; )