What the green flash actually looks like and how often sailors see it

Lauren Landers Sailing describes the green flash not as a dramatic burst of color but as a small spark or glow right at the moment the sun hits the horizon. She says she sees it a couple of times a year, which she does not consider often often, but enough to be a believer. The key requirement is a completely clear, unobstructed horizon with no clouds. At sea, ocean swell complicates things because the sun can disappear behind a wave and then reappear as the swell passes, making it hard to know whether you actually saw the flash or just the sun popping back into view. She acknowledges it is a controversial topic among sailors but stands firmly on the side of the believers.