Current in the Med

SouthPark

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I'm planning a trip from Almeria to the Atlantic coast of Spain/Portugal later this year. The pilot book refers to East-going currents of "1 - 3 knots" all along this coast. Does anyone know a good source for more accurate information? The difference between 1 and 3 knots would make a huge difference to my passage planning. I have Imray charts of the area but they are not much help.

Thanks,

Southy
 

Abigail

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As I understand it, the speed of the current will vary depending on issues like water temperature, position of the Azzores High, air pressure etc - as well as being faster when squeezed through narrow gaps or round headlands. So the best you can do is average it out and also see how you are doing when actually out there!

Just have enought food and water for the slowest possible passage /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 

boatmike

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Thats true but the main reason is that the Med evaporates and the water is restored by a flow from the Atlantic so I guess hot summers=higher current flow.
(Unless anyone knows different!)
 

Sailfree

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Colin Thomas (I think) of Straights Sailing School used to write an small information almanac of this area. You can obtain their tel. no. from their advert for their courses in the normal magazines.
 

Sybarite

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I believe that there is an east going surface current but at depth there is a west going one. Apparently in the past sail ships wanting to head west would drop a weighted sail and allow themselves to be towed out though the straights.

John
 

Talbot

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If you het the UKHO book on ocean passages it not only shows you wind around the world on a monthly basis, but also ocean currents. However, a better source of this data is a smart bit of software http://www.digwave.com/products.htm which will also do route optimisation for you. Only thing it doesnt do yet is include grib files /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif
 

Roberto

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In June, current from Gibraltar strait to cabo de Gata goes eastward, rate 0.6-0.7kt; at cabo de gata this current meets a SW going current coming from Golfe du Lion, 0.4kt: the E going current keeps to the south of Baleares, so these islands are in the middle of a counterclockwise current rotation

in july the SW going current hugs the spanish south coast as far as the middle of alboran sea, with a 0.4kt rate; the E going current keeps nearer to N african coast

in august the flow is decidedly Eastward in Alboran sea, then NE until Barcelona, rate 0.6-0.7kt in alboran then 0.4-0.5
 
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