Moment huge line of surfers ride the five-star Severn Bore tidal wave, a rare natural phenomenon seen in daylight for the first time in five years
This is the moment a line of surfers rode a five-star Severn Bore as the rare natural phenomenon emerged in daylight for the first time in five years today.
The Bore, a tidal wave found in the lower reaches of the river, was visible this morning as it rose between Newnham-on-Severn and Over in Gloucestershire.
Hundreds of spectators lined the riverbank and bridges to catch a glimpse of the first and only five-star drinks of the year, while dozens of surfers and paddleboarders tried to catch the wave.
The Severn Estuary receives the second highest tidewater in the world and the difference between the lowest and highest tidewater in one day can be more than 14 metres.
This high or spring tide occurs on different days in each lunar cycle during spring and autumn and the bore is caused when the rising tide is directed into an increasingly narrow channel against the current of the river.
The Bore, a tidal wave found in the lower reaches of the river, was visible as it rose between Newnham-on-Severn and Over in Gloucestershire
Dozens of surfers and paddle boarders tried to ride the wave with varying degrees of success
The Severn Estuary receives the second highest water in the world and the difference between the lowest and highest waters in one day can be more than 14.5 meters (47 feet).
Today marked the first time in five years that the drilling has achieved its highest ‘five-star’ status in daylight.
Every year enthusiasts flock to the river in an attempt to surf the wave as thousands of spectators watch.
Six surfers, Will, Beth, Sarah, Arron, MJ and Alex, traveled from Bristol today to ride the bore and described it as ‘one of the best minutes of our lives’.
Speaking to the BBC, they added that there was a strong current and the bore was ‘difficult to catch’.
Another surfer, Steve King, said the challenge with a single wave was the need to leave enough room for everyone else.
“We’re all trying to catch the same wave, so there’s 30 or 40 people on it,” he said.
Cornish surf instructor Peter Abell proposed to his marine biologist girlfriend Angie de Burgh while riding the bore in 2016.
Video shows the pair balancing on their boards as the tidal wave washes up the River Severn, before Angie shouts: ‘Yes.’
The place has special meaning for Peter and Angie as their love of surfing first brought them together there in 2013.
Today marked the first time in five years that the drilling has achieved its highest ‘five-star’ status in daylight
Every year enthusiasts flock to the river in an attempt to surf the wave as thousands of spectators watch
Surfers wait for the drill to make its way to them this morning
Surfers walk into the River Severn before the bore arrives