UK’s top 10 (or 11?) fiercest tidal races (YM)

[dunedin]

There is an article in the current YM on the “Top 11” fiercest tidal races in the U.K. (although they admit the 11th is technically not U.K.).

Certainly some serious tidal races there - although also one spectacular (in both senses) omission.

So without cheating by looking, what would the Scuttlebut forumites consider the 10 fiercest tidal races around the U.K. from their experience ?

 

[sarabande]

I would include Hartland Point, Devon

 

[scruff]

Cuan Sound / Luing Sound / Corryvreckan/ Dorus Mor / Grey dogs / Sanda Sound?

 

[CLB]

Swellies got to be in the list, as has the entrance to Strangford Lough. Don't know the area personally, but Pentland Firth?

Would the Severn Bore be considered a tidal race?

 

[CLB]

I'm guessing the Alderney Race is the 11th, non UK one?

 

[CLB]

Portland?

 

[ctva]

Pentland Firth
Grey Dogs
Corryverckan
Cuan Sound
North Channel / Sanda
Menia Strait
Eynhallow Sound
Severn
Kyle Rhea
Rhinns of Isla

Not in order.

 

[CLB]

The Dover Strait could certainly be considered a very serious tidal race, but probably not enough to make the list. I'm guessing it's ranked on tidal stream speed?

 

[jimi]

Grey Dogs, Corrywreckan, Pentland, Portland, Alderney, Corran Narrows, Connel Bridge, mull of Kintyre are ones that spring to mind

 

[Romeo]

So without cheating by looking, what would the Scuttlebut forumites consider the 10 fiercest tidal races around the U.K. from their experience ?

"from their experience" is the problem for me there. The ones that I have been through or experienced close at hand would be :

Cuan Sound, Corryvrekan, Grey Dogs, Dorus Mor, Corran Narrows, Connel (Loch Etive), Strangford Narrows, Pentland Firth.

There are probably masses around Shetland, that are ignored by our southern yachting press........ but I can't say I have ventured that far north in a boat.

 

[Minchsailor]

Kylerhea up by Skye - 7-8kns on a medium tide

 

[JumbleDuck]

Personal experience, no particular order

Ardnamurchan
Mull of Kintyre
Mull of Oa
Mull of Galloway
Caliach Point
Dorus Mor
Coirebhreacan
Grey Dogs
MacCormaig Islands
Sound of Islay

Sound of Luing and Cuan Sound fail to make the cut because though they are fast I have never experienced any particular ferocity in either, just wheeeeeeeeeeeee.

 

[oldmanofthehills]

The Shoots on the Severn is about 9kts and I have come through Jack Sound between Skomer and Welsh mainland at 13 kt just after slack (so probably 7kt tide, as boat chugging alongat 4kt) and I dread to think what it must run at mid tide.

Overfalls are what worry me however and they can occur at much lower tidal stream speeds. For instance I dont believe that Portland race is that fast but by heck I am sure if our boat got in it, that would be the end of us.

 

[Minchsailor]

There are probably masses around Shetland, that are ignored by our southern yachting press........ but I can't say I have ventured that far north in a boat.

Having ventured the far a few times, Sumburgh Race for certain, not sure about places such as Muckle Flugga.

Quite a few places in the Orkney Islands - I'm still trying to work out is it is possible to transit W to E (Eyenhallow Sd has already been mentioned) in one tide.

 

[CLB]

There is an article in the current YM on the “Top 11” fiercest tidal races in the U.K. (although they admit the 11th is technically not U.K.).

Certainly some serious tidal races there - although also one spectacular (in both senses) omission.

So without cheating by looking, what would the Scuttlebut forumites consider the 10 fiercest tidal races around the U.K. from their experience ?

Come on then. For those us that don’t get YM, what are the 11?

 

[jimi]

I cut the corner a bit fine at Cap de la Hague on a big spring tide once. The GPS was recording 21 Knots SOG, the log was reading 6.5 Knots through the water. Fortunately there was no wind that day although it was still a trifle lumpy!

 

[dunedin]

Come on then. For those us that don’t get YM, what are the 11?

I am enjoying and learning from the interesting nominations. Let’s let the open thinking and suggestions flow a bit more before closing the topic down by giving YM’s list. But I will do so once the flow slows to slack water.

 

[Mistroma]

North East coast of Ireland must be well up the list. We left Glenarm with virtually no wind, but some tide and drifted north knowing the tide would increase and the wind pick up off the land.

It certainly did and we sailed at about 5.5kts, making about 15 knots over the ground. Pretty straight course with some dodging to avoid overfalls and made it to Ballycastle in about 1.5 hours when the tide and wind kicked in together.

 

[Baddox]

As well as the ones posted above, I'll add the ull of Galloway and Neist point on Skye.

 

[Kelpie]

As has been mentioned above, it might not just be about speed, it might be about how difficult/uncomfortable it is to tackle.
Some of the races mentioned are very fast but, if you pick the right conditions/time, not actually a big deal.E.g. Kylerhea has never given me any trouble, but I've never tried to do it in wind over tide, or without favourable tide.

Having said that, I'll go with Burger Roost in Eynhallow. Even in favourable conditions you can get standing waves. I met someone who went through it after a few days of NW swell and it sounded like going through a washing machine.