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27 October 2007 -The river Severn, and all it comprises, is barely out of the news nowadays.
 The Gloucestershire landmark boasts a truly unique natural wonder, hugely diverse wildlife, associated industry and leisure tangents. This multi functional eco-system is one of Gloucestershire's finest landmarks. This weekend witnessed the passing of the final (sizeable) Severn Bore for 2007. Surfers and lovers of this amazing natural spectacle gathered.
The Severn Bore is one of Britain's few truly spectacular natural phenomena. It is a large surge wave that runs into the River Severn estuary, where the tidal range is the 2nd highest in the world. The shape of the Severn estuary is such that the water is funnelled into an increasingly narrow channel as the tide rises. The tide-wave is slowed by the rising river bed and constricting nature of the estuary. 12 hours of flood tide is compressed to just over an hour whereby the rising tide becomes unstable and a bore forms at the leading edge thus forming the large wave.
On Saturday, CLOUD news caught up with two experts in their field, brought together through a common passion, the Severn Bore. Steve King, from Gloucestershire, has been surfing the Severn Bore for 20 years and knows the river inside out. He also holds the unofficial world record for the longest continuous surf ride (over seven miles). Mark Humpage, elemental photographer from Leicestershire, has been capturing the bore on camera for the past five years. Mark's last bore viewing (from a microlight aircraft) and incredible images made many of the National newspapers. This was to be the second time Steve and Mark have met for a bore ride spectacle. Unfortunately all did not go to plan.
The pair set off on an inflatable shortly after 8am to be greeted by the roar of the approaching wave shortly after. Both quickly set about doing what they do best, Steve in the water and Mark from the boat. The sheer power of the wave and flooding tide attracts many surfers from all over the UK many of whom were now in the river enjoying this natural feast. Steve rides the waves and boat follows, picking up where necessary. After 10 minutes it would appear all is not well with the hardware. The boat outboard engine splutters and struggles with the ferocity of the murky howling waters of the Severn. The boat dies, and the bore is over.... for today anyway. The two manage to hitch a ride, via another boat laden with fellow borers, to the river edge. Ironically this short journey alone highlighted how much energy is harnessed by the flooding Severn as they attempted to drag against its ferocious tidal flow. Steve, genuinely disappointed, even after 20 years of bore surfing, spoke to CLOUD "I was hugely disappointed with today especially for Mark who has travelled a fair distance to get here. The boat has not once let me down in 20 years. A stiff breeze behind helped the bore today and up until our boat failure it was great surf". Mark was very understanding about the whole affair "Whilst naturally disappointed, there is nothing one can do. Its just one of those things. Having had much experience with RIB's in the past, through diving, I know only too well how much you are at the mercy of a boat's engine. I'll be back again next time to capture Steve and the bore in action".
Catch up with some of the few photos Mark captured here - Severn Bore photos Last update : 01-11-2007 11:10
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Facts
By: Hoot (Guest) on 29-10-2007 17:15