Posted by Jock on January 06, 2001 at 22:48:07 from 194.154.96.232:
In Reply to: COOT CLUB - observations part TWO posted by Ed Kiser on January 05, 2001 at 06:42:57:
>P159 Chapter 13
>"Teasel slipped through exactly under the middle of the arch, with just
>about a foot to spare."
Potter Bridge is VERY low. In fact hire boats these days are not supposed to go through without a bridge pilot. This convention is adhered to by hirers of motor boats. But most skippers of sailing boats (which are lower) get through without any trouble.
>They are making their first passage under a bridge, this one at Potter
>Heigham, and apparently it is a near thing. I was wondering if the tide
>had any effect on the water levels at this point in the river....
Normal tidal range at Potter is about a foot. At Yarmouth and Breydon Water it can be 12 feet or more!
>One must assume therefore that the tide DID affect the water level and
>the rate of its flow at the bridge at Potter as well. Perhaps the >changein level due to the tide was not all that much to be concerned
>about clearance under the bridge.
The tidal flow around Potter can happily be ignored by skippers of sailing craft except when trying to tack against the wind in very light airs. At Yarmouth the flow (upto 7 knots) can be downright dangerous and sailing boats without engines should arrive just before slack water.