gag
Well-Known Member
Anyone been through the Pentland Firth, especially if it was rough ?
Pentland Firth
- Thread starter gag
- Start date
Bilgediver
Well-Known Member
Yes.....on a 35,000 ton ship and boy we took a beating /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif Pick your weather and tide window
gag
Well-Known Member
Theres an Icelandic guy in Scrabster by the Pentland Firth just now on a yacht he bought in Holland. He's missed the window to get back home in it. He's a trawler skipper.
He tried to go up the E of orkney from Scrabster and got beaten back by bad weather, turned around to go back through the Pentland Firth ( mistake ) , found the tide was taking him W into the Firth at 14Kts against a 45Kts wind.
Had to go through the races and then his mainsail halliard broke and went round the prop.
He lost his radar reflector and flagstaff in the waves. He said it was " very bad " - from a skipper who fishes in the Arctic in a big boat, not the 30' yacht he was in, that seems an understatement indeed !
He tried to go up the E of orkney from Scrabster and got beaten back by bad weather, turned around to go back through the Pentland Firth ( mistake ) , found the tide was taking him W into the Firth at 14Kts against a 45Kts wind.
Had to go through the races and then his mainsail halliard broke and went round the prop.
He lost his radar reflector and flagstaff in the waves. He said it was " very bad " - from a skipper who fishes in the Arctic in a big boat, not the 30' yacht he was in, that seems an understatement indeed !
mikejames
Well-Known Member
Here is a wave-related fatal incident onboard a 42000 ton ship in the region of the Pentland Firth ...
http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources/FR8%20Venture.pdf
http://www.maib.gov.uk/cms_resources/FR8%20Venture.pdf
FAITIRA
Well-Known Member
No, but if you use sea sense and caution it should not be a drama, lots of areas have dread reputations, well deserved in the right/wrong conditions, but are exillarating in the right ones. If you get a reply from someone who went through when it was rough, poor soul made a mistake, as we all do, mine was at Portland 33yrs ago! Bill.
gag
Well-Known Member
Quite right, Fit Tira.
Last time I came through the Firth was after the Moray Firth Flotilla in July and after a two week layup in Wick to get a good tide it was Ok but being a long keeler the swirly bits were pushing us around a bit even though it was flat calm. Swirl in front pushing to Port , swirl at back pushing to Stbd. Using full rudder at times to keep course but plenty of room to manouvre.
Beautiful trip through and the Orkneys are well recommended if up this way.
Last time I came through the Firth was after the Moray Firth Flotilla in July and after a two week layup in Wick to get a good tide it was Ok but being a long keeler the swirly bits were pushing us around a bit even though it was flat calm. Swirl in front pushing to Port , swirl at back pushing to Stbd. Using full rudder at times to keep course but plenty of room to manouvre.
Beautiful trip through and the Orkneys are well recommended if up this way.
narooma
Well-Known Member
Went through both ways this year. Paid very carefull attention to tides and had a fantastic run both ways. Interestingly the wave ht. was lower going through than on either side. Read the charts and get the tide right. As for weather, if it's ok for you for the period then, if all else is ok, should be no problems in the Firth.
JRiley
New Member
Don't know if you've come across this:
http://www.caithness.org/pentlandfirth/tides.htm
Looks pretty comprehensive, although we haven't used it in anger, so to speak!
http://www.caithness.org/pentlandfirth/tides.htm
Looks pretty comprehensive, although we haven't used it in anger, so to speak!
AngusMcDoon
Well-Known Member
I've been through west to east on a calm evening via Inner Sound. It was 2 days after springs, and timed to agree with the guidance in the pilot book. A few swirls and bumps, and some white water in the distance, but no problem. A great place in the right conditions.
This link here describes Pentland Firth and other places oop north half way down
This link here describes Pentland Firth and other places oop north half way down
Sadlermike
Well-Known Member
Been through or across the Firth more than 100 times in a kayak and a dozen times in a yacht. As long as you don't try to go through with wind against tide or in very bad weather you will wonder what gives it such a bad reputation. Get the tides wrong or try it in F6 plus and you will have no doubts about its reputation.
It really is straightforward.
It really is straightforward.