Wow. Chi marina extreme freeflow

[ricky_s]

Filmed this yesterday afternoon. I've never seen it flowing out so fast!

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee11/rickyhobson/?action=view&current=MOV00020.flv

 

[colingr]

That could be interesting for a few low power engined raggies

 

[ricky_s]

That could be interesting for a few low power engined raggies

It put me off going out. I did see a boat go through, a Merry Fisher 805. He was probably doing 3-4 knots until he hit the stream, then wooshed through a lot faster.

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Filmed this yesterday afternoon. I've never seen it flowing out so fast!

http://s229.photobucket.com/albums/ee11/rickyhobson/?action=view&current=MOV00020.flv

Thats a regular occurence at Chi Marina on both the ebb and flood tides as I'm sure some local will come along and tell us soon. You can radio the lock staff and ask them to shut the far gate to stop the flow whilst you motor into the lock and then shut the near gate to let you out. I once saw a large motorboat get sluiced through the lock on a big flood tide and spear a Trader parked the other side. Made quite a mess so you have to be careful

 

[ricky_s]

Thats a regular occurence at Chi Marina on both the ebb and flood tides as I'm sure some local will come along and tell us soon. You can radio the lock staff and ask them to shut the far gate to stop the flow whilst you motor into the lock and then shut the near gate to let you out. I once saw a large motorboat get sluiced through the lock on a big flood tide and spear a Trader parked the other side. Made quite a mess so you have to be careful

Thats odd, I've never seen it that fast there before. The lock keeper said they had to close it the day before because it was too dangerous and was the fastest he had ever seen it.

 

[Richard Shead]

I do like

Thats a regular occurence at Chi Marina on both the ebb and flood tides as I'm sure some local will come along and tell us soon. You can radio the lock staff and ask them to shut the far gate to stop the flow whilst you motor into the lock and then shut the near gate to let you out. I once saw a large motorboat get sluiced through the lock on a big flood tide and spear a Trader parked the other side. Made quite a mess so you have to be careful

It when something big starts powering up from at least the Spinnaker just to make sure they get through!

 

[Deleted User YDKXO]

Thats odd, I've never seen it that fast there before. The lock keeper said they had to close it the day before because it was too dangerous and was the fastest he had ever seen it.

I've been there as a visitor and seen this a couple of times myself but the staff told me it happens regularly. I've certainly been approaching the marina on a big flood tide and seen the boat in front slew sideways and bash the lock sides after which I asked for the forward gate to be closed. After we moored, I went back to watch other boats come in and thats when I saw the Trader incident. Could be that your vid doesnt give a true indication of the full force of the tide as it was yesterday and it was even worse than usual?

 

[benjenbav]

That's pretty rapid. Faster than I can recall seeing and we've been in Chichester since 2002.

 

[l'escargot]

That could be interesting for a few low power engined raggies

I went in there once in a small sailing boat on the flood and half way through had to open up to full throttle (5 knots) to get steerage and to stop me slewing side on - there was no going back! Luckily there was no one in the way the other side.

 

[ricky_s]

Could be that your vid doesnt give a true indication of the full force of the tide as it was yesterday and it was even worse than usual?

Think so, it certainly seemed a lot faster watching than the video shows. I wasn't going to go out in it in my boat, would have been fun to try in someone elses though.

 

[nicho]

Thats odd, I've never seen it that fast there before. The lock keeper said they had to close it the day before because it was too dangerous and was the fastest he had ever seen it.

The shot is of a flow OUT of the marina, not in, and was probably taken shortly after the gates opened. It would have settled down shortly after - best to avoid the early stages of free flow.

 

[ricky_s]

The shot is of a flow OUT of the marina, not in, and was probably taken shortly after the gates opened. It would have settled down shortly after - best to avoid the early stages of free flow.

I know it was a shot of the water flowing out, I said that when I posted the video.

It actually seemed to flow a lot slower after the gates closed and gradually built up to that speed after a few minutes. Was taken a good hour after hight tide too.

 

[fireball]

It actually seemed to flow a lot slower after the gates closed and gradually built up to that speed after a few minutes. Was taken a good hour after hight tide too.

Er - it should STOP FLOWING after the gates CLOSE!!

 

[ricky_s]

Er - it should STOP FLOWING after the gates CLOSE!!

You know what I meant!

 

[nicho]

I know it was a shot of the water flowing out, I said that when I posted the video.

It actually seemed to flow a lot slower after the gates closed and gradually built up to that speed after a few minutes. Was taken a good hour after hight tide too.

As a Chi Marina resident you know that the lockies often leave the gates closed for some time after high water, and then open them to allow a fast flow of water as in your video. This goes some way to flushing the marina. As can be seen from your video, the level inside the marina is somewhat higher than outside, hence it is rushing out. After the water levels inside and outside equalise, the flow will be much reduced. It sure looks dramatic, and I wouldn't like to tackle it at that sort of flow rate (unless, as you say, in someone elses boat!!)

 

[alt]

Can anyone explain why thats happening? Or even give a link to a Google Map so I can take a look?

I've never been near the area and don't know it at all - i'm in West Ireland

 

[Richard Shead]

Its called free flow

Can anyone explain why thats happening? Or even give a link to a Google Map so I can take a look?

I've never been near the area and don't know it at all - i'm in West Ireland

Chichester Marina has a lock which means you can enter at almost all states of the tide (depending on your boat). When the tide (harbour) is near enough level to that of the marina, they open both sets of gates to allow craft to enter and leave without "locking in and out". What's happening here is the tide is on the way out, having filled the marina by a certain amount, they do this to "flush it out" so I have been told. They will have closed the gates not long after that shot (although I was not there) and then you lock through as normal.

Naturally it goes without saying its far easier to leave / enter against the flow rather than with!

 

[ricky_s]

What's happening here is the tide is on the way out, having filled the marina by a certain amount, they do this to "flush it out" so I have been told.

What do they flush out Richard?

 

[Richard Shead]

I guess

What do they flush out Richard?

To give it some flow etc, and possibly to get rid of anything from folk who perhaps may not have a holding tank..although I would find that VERY unlikely....

 

[nicho]

What do they flush out Richard?

Ricky. I think it's a lot to do with clearing out some of the brackish water that's found in the far end of the marina, although I stand to be corrected on this. At the Eastern end, there's a pretty regular flow of fresh water from the surrounding farmland, and as I understand it, that's not good for boat anodes and the like.

On the other hand, I could be talking out my a**se!