Paddling Bramble Bank in a sea kayak at low tide

Chris W writes…

On 30th March, there was an exceptional low tide in the Solent. Portsmouth Tide predicted 0.3 over datum, while Willy Weather Tides predicted 0.06 below datum at Stansore Point. For context, datum is normally LAT (Lowest Astronomical Tide), and the Bramble Bank is charted at 0.2 above datum on Navionics Charts.

As some of you know, I have a Sea Kayak, and whenever conditions allow, I do try to get out to Bramble Bank. Sunday was a beautiful day, not a cloud in the sky. The wind, although low for sailing, was on the limit for comfortable kayaking.

The bank revealed

We were three men in boats, setting off from Calshot beach past the Stanswood Outfall Structure. We arrived at the bank about 45 minutes after launching which, unfortunately, turned out to be around ten minutes too early. The bank was still hiding under the water. The distance to the horizon from a kayak is limited.

We stooged around for a while before spotting ripples in the distance and paddled toward them. Within minutes, the bank rose up from beneath the sea. It happens very quickly, and we grounded on the sand.

We’d come prepared with a table for our cream tea (two of us opting for “Cornish” and me for “Devon”). The Bank itself lies southwest of the Bramble Post and is composed of hard sand. In some ways, it looks like a Martian landscape, dotted with small impact craters.

The return paddle

Low water was at 18:15 and we set off at 18:20. It took until 19:10 to reach the water’s edge, and from there we had a long trolley across sand and weed to find the beach again.

All in all, a great afternoon out.