Do I need to buy an almanac every year?

[John_Clarke]

For the last few years the excellent Belfield Tide Plotter has produced tailor made tide tables for our annual cruise in the West of Scotland and the chart plotter in the cockpit allows us to navigate with ease and without nausea. This is supplemented for pilotage into anchorages by the up-to-date Clyde Cruising Club and Imray guides. As backup we carry corrected Imray C Series charts and a large set of uncorrected Admiralty charts.

I rarely look up the almanac and then it is only for information that does not change. Do I need to keep buying a new almanac every year?

 

[saltwater_gypsy]

NO!!!!!!

 

[awol]

Depends on whether there is information in the almanac that you need. Possible changes from the previous issues that may be of interest include :
Coastguard weather forecast times
Navigation marks and lights (updated Imrays should cover these)
Telephone numbers and radio channels for harbours etc.
Medical advice - yes it does change e.g. CPR
and I'm sure there's more.

Have a look at Bono Rock port hand buoy just north of Fladda - has it moved - Imray cf Admiralty?

 

[Phoenix of Hamble]

Not really.....

But I do buy (a full) one every year at the turn of the year, as it makes a nice daydream read until the warmer, lighter evenings!

 

[RAI]

I alternate between Reeds and the Cruising association ones. But this year I was given both as Xmas prezzies.

 

[Twister_Ken]

The CA Almanac is only published every second year, with new tide tables supplied free for the second year.

Updates are available from the CA website. When you see the cumulative changes, you probably wouldn't want to leave it much more than 2 years before renewing.

 

[John_Clarke]

"Coastguard weather forecast times" - these are advised in the sailing magazines and I update my list.
"Telephone numbers and radio channels for harbours etc." - covered in CCC guides.
"Medical advice" - we have a first aid book but I would call the CG if it was serious.

"Have a look at Bono Rock port hand buoy just north of Fladda" - Imray's amendment sheet covered this.

There is probably something useful in the almanac but I have not thought of it yet.

 

[ebbtide]

Re:Belfield program

Have regularly complained to Keith B about omissions in his harbour coverage, but no improvement. I've also found times differing by an hour from Easytide predictions, and whatever the theorists say those are the ones I trust for both sides of the Channel.

 

[Billjratt]

I've only ever had 2 and they were prizes from the club.
I have tidal atlasses, and can get Dover tide times for free from a squillion places. depends on where you're going and what other equipment is on board (navtex, weatherman,SSB ,plotter, gps etc.) I do carry cruising guides for the intended areas though (Martin Lawrence)
So, in precis, my answer is no.

 

[awol]

[ QUOTE ]
There is probably something useful in the almanac but I have not thought of it yet.

[/ QUOTE ]

In that case, you've answered your own question.

 

[Judders]

I have made a firm decision not to bother this year. The only time I have used a changing part in the last two years is for tide tables when I have forgotten my print out from Easytide. This year I have purchased one set of tide tables and been given another. The time differences wont have changed. I may compare with this years before entering new cruising ground and make notes as appropriate.