best to wrap it in a plastic bag so less water gets to the lens.
i saw an account of a guy and his buddy who were shooting along a pier with waves that kept washing over them. one of them had a sealed lens but the other guy had a sigma lens that emerged fine.
anyway it's my opinion that if the shot is worth it then by all means whip out the camera for it, even if it's a drenching rain. keep the camera right after the shot instead of walking around with it exposed. give it a good wipe after getting back and put it in the dry box straight away. oh and don't zoom in and out so you don't suck water into the lens.
if the lens spoils, it's just the kit lens.. just get a da* 16-50 to replace it:bsmilie: