steep point swell
Submitted by no fish on Wed, 2016-06-08 10:18
are planning my first trip to the point for next year. was wondering what size swell it takes to break across south passage as we will be taking two 4.2 metre dinghies. any tips or advice would be greatly appreciated. thanks wanga
Oldbull
Posts: 175
Date Joined: 21/09/15
swell
I was up there from 20th may for a week when the big storms come through and the passage was almost closed out. Swells hitting the point down as far as NOR6 where sending water over the top of the cliffs. Dinghies were doing OK inside the channel just out from shelter bay cam sites.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Run out tide worst
But generally OK. There is a very sharp drop as you head out, more or less off Monkey Rock, where it goes vertical down to over 30 metres. This is where it will happen if it does. Stay away from the north side of the passage, it breaks everywhere there, but you should be able to see that. Tends to be a nasty, sloppy backwash sea out from the cliffs on either side of the passage.
I spent nearly two months working a crayboat out of there in the nineties, during autumn, didn't actually ever see it break across in that time. But when it does break, due to the sharp rise and an outgoing tide, it will do so with no warning.
Cruise Control
Posts: 971
Date Joined: 03/11/10
yep, have to watch the run
yep, have to watch the run out, especially in a small boat.