Does everyone understand tides ?

[andrewhopkins]

I saw the strangest thing on Friday.

What seemed to be a single hander in a very pretty 20-25ft boat was in the middle of southampton water running under main alone.

However, it was one of the strongest ebb tides of the year and he was in the middle of the channel going against it.

He wasnt alone, there were quite a few in 15-20m of water struggling against it.

The majority of us hugged the coast in 3m to make some way but he was going backwards! He then put on his engine but this just meant he was standing still.

I know there is no rush in sailing and "enjoy the journey" and all that but I cannot see the point in not moving. You might as well drop the anchor!

Should I have told him about the sun and the moon ?

 

[Eudorajab]

I suppose it depends on what he was trying to do. This is quite a common phenomenon round Langstone where the tide runs very fast indeed (normally) but in this case it has a lot to do with the timing of the sill dropping (being generous here), but still most sailors go close inshore to avoid the worst of it.

I also know an old single hander who will never sail against a foul tide and does just that i.e drops his hook and wiats for the tide to turn. Great philosophy if you dont need to get back to the office !!!!

 

[oldharry]

Yes, its all very well for us oldies to bewail the passing of the 'engineless yacht' so common 50 years ago, and to expect to do it all under sail.

Great if you have time, and (if having to indulge in the 'work' pastime to pay for it all as most of us do) an understanding boss who doesnt mind you rolling in at lunchtime on monday. (Is there such a thing nowadays?). But for the rest of us the need to obey the great dictator time, means engines are an essential part of the sport, Sadly.

But that does not justify poor seamanship like not taking advantage of the slower currents an eddies to be found near the bank. Chi Harbour entrance can run up to 5+kts, but I very rarely see anyone else using the eddies close under Hayling Island, and often get there much quicker than most when having to buck a foul tide.

 

[jeanette]

I understand the tide thing - but it's galling to have the lesson pressed home when you miss the best window of opportunity by an hour.

3 hours were spent on early Sunday morning, observing the Outer Ower's cardinal from pretty much the same angle, wishing I had had a chart for the more northerly route!

Who decides when the Easter break is going to fall? I wish they had chosen a Neap tide instead!

(Yes, I know. It's the sun and the moon thing)



Jeanette

 

[andrewhopkins]

Sometimes its good

Springs can be useful as it means HW at midday (in the solent) so you can sail to a difficult lunchtime spot for an hour or so and then leave!

However, sods law always dictates the tide moving against the way you want to go!

 

[Guest]

Find out by doing

I remember reading books that taught you how to do things that sometimes had the classic 'find out by doing' bits.

I can only assume that this bloke has time for the 'doing' but none for the 'how' . Bit like our Mr Byers.

I think that it is important in life to read up on everything before you try it. Whether you do it right is not important , getting the name of someone to blame is.

 

[Guest]

Same with Leeway

I have often driven a fast motor boat across a racing fleet which was some way from me but sailing towards me. It's amazing how many of them appear to be going sideways faster than ahead, no doubt really proud of themselves for sailing at 25 degrees to the wind!
If anybody comes West don't venture along the South Devon or Cornish coasts without Fennessy's tidal stream atlases for these coasts. He was a canoeist, so had to get it right!

 

[AndrewB]

Looe channel

The tide really rips through here specially just inside the western entrance, causing overfalls on big springs. You were probably better off stuck out at the Owers!

 

[andrewg]

I don't understand tides. Supposedly it's the gravitational pull of the sun and moon that causes the tides. So when they are both pulling in the same direction (new moon) you get spring tides. Fair enough, but when the sun and moon are on opposite sides of the Earth (full moon), with the gravitational pull in opposite directions, surely they'd cancel eachother out and you'd get neap tides. But you get spring tides then. Complete mystery to me. Not important, but has anyone got a good explanation?