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

[BobnLesley]

Fastest we've been carried was going through Kyle Rhea, that was probably scariest too; making 14 knots when we hit fog about 1/2 mile before we reached the chain ferry and visibility dropped to <100'. The roughest was perhaps on the south side of Rathlin Island, we learnt what 'wind over tide' really meant that day!

 

[Quandary]

Fastest we've been carried was going through Kyle Rhea, that was probably scariest too; making 14 knots when we hit fog about 1/2 mile before we reached the chain ferry and visibility dropped to <100'. The roughest was perhaps on the south side of Rathlin Island, we learnt what 'wind over tide' really meant that day!

Chain Ferry? in Scotland? Our ferry skippers are expected to be able to motor across anything. They were able to take the Kyle Rhea ferry up to Loch Carron a couple of winters ago when the rail line was closed, not sure if the dog went but as he is convinced he is the skipper he probably did.

 

[TLouth7]

Between Rathlin Island and the mainland is not to be tackled at the wrong state of the tide. Even at the best time, it has strong Eddie's.

Eddie's in the spacetime continuum?

 

[Trop Cher]

Chain Ferry? in Scotland? Our ferry skippers are expected to be able to motor across anything. They were able to take the Kyle Rhea ferry up to Loch Carron a couple of winters ago when the rail line was closed, not sure if the dog went but as he is convinced he is the skipper he probably did.

Yes, the dug came too!

 

[CLB]

How could strangford lough not be in there?

 

[lenten]

not a proper race but the fastest piece of water i have been on---- just north? of sark old harbour there is a large rock that funnels the water into a jetstream that flows along the harbour wall and across the harbour entrance----arriving on a september spring tide from jersey with a 12 foot boat and a seagull engine i circled round a few times working out how to get across the flow and into the small harbour entrance-----in the end i took a deep breath went full speed ahead aiming not at the entrance but at the wall------the flow grabbed me---pushed me sideways and i was in------ there was a larger jersey boat already there-----we had all come to go ormering-----however as soon we started the honary police swooped on us-----ormer season on sark didn t start till october------however all was not lost----we hooked up with the sark postman with his tractor and trailer -----an enthusiastic drinker who took us on a pub crawl----i slept that night but i don t where or how

 

[kitling89]

How could strangford lough not be in there?

Totally agree. I guess it comes down to what qualifies as 'fiercest'.

If its raw speed and power then Strangford should be on there,

If its carnage and mayhem, then why isn't Corryvreckan mealstrom on there?

 

[Beneteau381]

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 ?

Any one going through Bardsey Sound at 13kts with the tide as we have, by mistake! And seeing spontaneous water epthrusts from the Tripods will put this at the top of their lists!

 

[JumbleDuck]

If its carnage and mayhem, then why isn't Corryvreckan mealstrom on there?

Perhaps because at the only times anyone sane would use it, it's a pussycat?

 

[RobbieW]

-----we had all come to go ormering-----however as soon we started the honary police swooped on us-----ormer season on sark didn t start till october------

Fred Drift and perhaps better in the tenuous claims to fame thread, anyway - Ive met the bloke who claims to be the first to be arrested underwater in the British Isles whilst ormering in St Peter Port out of season

 

[ctva]

...
Yet oddly Kyle Rhea is included - sure it goes pretty fast, but both ends in much more sheltered waters so rarely anything worse than a 5 minute splash, and only when coming southbound into a strong Southerly.
...

"5 min splash"... really???

I have a video to show otherwise.

 

[Boathook]

The Swinge? between Alderney and Burhou is interesting. I've only done it when calm but the tide added about 7 knots on to the boat speed.

 

[KREW2]

With both Portland and St.Albans race it is the overfalls that make it uncomfortable. When rounding I always find it unnerving watching the depth shoal from 40 meters to 9 and back up to 40 in a very short time. Hit it at 3rd and 4th hours of a spring tide and it is like being in a washing machine. Fortunately it only lasts for about 10/15 minutes.

 

[Hadenough]

The Swinge? between Alderney and Burhou is interesting. I've only done it when calm but the tide added about 7 knots on to the boat speed.

We have done it when we shouldn’t have! Five horrible nights on a buoy in Braye and my wife demanded that we get the hell out as she was being seasick on the bouy! (never is at sea). I decided that I knew better than the Braye Coastguard ? so we got severely battered through the Swinge In a SW 5 Wind against tide, DOPE. I have done many of the races mentioned above and am usually very careful to hit them at the optimum times but the Swinge was a revelation. Boat took it well but we didn’t. At one point I told my wife that she must sit down on the cockpit sole (with the dog ?) and that we couldn’t turn back. She declared that she was completely happy as she was no longer seasick! Moral, avoid Braye unless you can keep it short and listen to local advice.

 

[ctva]

So the YM list of “Fiercest Tide Races” (in clockwise from The Solent order, rather than strength) is:
1) Portland
2) Lizard
3) Lundy Island
4) Jack & Ramsay Sound
5) Anglesay
6) Rathlin Island
7) Mull of Kintyre
8) Kyle Rhea
9) Pentland Firth
10) Sumburgh Roest
And
11) Alderney Race

Certainly some serious tidal races in there - including some most serious such as Pentland Firth and Sumburgh (Orkneys and Shetlands respectively).
And having seen Portland in a full gale (from ashore) it is certainly up there.

But the “spectacular” omission is Corryvreckan - definitely one of the most spectacular (and extensive) tidal races in the U.K., particularly when meeting the full Atlantic Ocean swell from the west. (Though not a problem if sensible about only going outbound into both moderate winds and swell, done it lots of times safely.)
Yet oddly Kyle Rhea is included - sure it goes pretty fast, but both ends in much more sheltered waters so rarely anything worse than a 5 minute splash, and only when coming southbound into a strong Southerly. This wouldn’t be in my top 5 (10?) even in Scotland, and certainly much less serious than Chichester Harbour on an ebb, for example.

But some great posts on other tidal races around our coasts. Take care exploring them

I'm still trying to figure out what their criteria was. Any ideas?

 

[JumbleDuck]

I'm still trying to figure out what their criteria was. Any ideas?

"Somebody in their office in Farnborough has heard of it."

I'm mildly surprised they found any away from the Solent.