Tidal races make big bumps

Downwind Foil
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Now this is a good use of the big tides in the UK!

Tregarhood

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so sick. I want to foil the mouth of our river now.

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Those are the only conditions I try to ride in now. Reminds me a lot of my local. If you have Rivermouth or bays with currents, definitely seek out the tide opposing wind scenarios!

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Tarifa!

Between Isla de Tarifa and Estrecho Natural Park, an ebb tide with a strong Levante creates steep, powerful bumps. The wind pushes against the current, forming standing waves that can easily exceed over 2 meters. The stronger the wind and current, the bigger and steeper the bumps.

You go downwind slowly because you are going against the current, and you get a super lift when going upwind with the current.

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Looks pretty bumpy! Can you share more details? I had a look and this seems to have some details if you could elaborate a bit?

Tarifa is one of the few places with very strong tides/flow and very predictable winds that I’m aware of (Hood, ?)

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Basically in the Straight of Gibraltar, no? That’s gotta be wild!

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It is not bumpy everywhere, depending on the wind, when the Levante is stronger, usually averaging 20-35 knots, the bumps are bigger. The tide goes from high to low water, moving from the Atlantic to the Mediterranean. You can see my usual riding area.

Sometimes I go more upwind depending on how strong the wind is, because on the Gibraltar side, the wind is lower and the bumps are significantly smaller.

So, the main factor still is the wind: stronger wind means bigger bumps, but the current is also the second most important factor for the best combination.

Last session, the coast guard informed me that I must keep away from Tarifa port.

21977
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Tarifa nuking and calm. Looks cool

@vol can you share what the best downwind routes are? I always got the impression it’s maybe best to stay close to the town as the wind is offshore to go to far down the coast?

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@Matt

I usually go upwind and downwind in the Gibraltar Gulf near Tarifa because the wind there is stronger, but some people go from Tarifa to Bolonia, approximately 15 km, or from Tarifa to Caños de Meca, about 50 km. You can reach Tarifa downwind shuttle and ask for more details.

https://www.instagram.com/downwinderstarifa?stkn=MWxtMXh4a3E4cWUy

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