High and low tide in the UK.

T

Thonord

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On the Oslofjord, I don't worry to much about tides, except when racing.
This summer, however we will visit Scotland. (To Inverness, through the Caleconian and home through Pentland firth). Needless to say, tides are an issue and I have a question about the Tide tables.

They specify time of day and value in meters, such as in "13:45 - Low tide (1.10 m)".

I assume that the metric value is above lowest low, i.e. the depth given in the chart.
I have tried to Google an answer and searched this forum - to no avail, so obviously I'm the only one who doesn't know this.

I ask because it could prove embarrassing to be wrong.

Thank you
Tom
 
Technically the datum level is LAT, which is "lowest astronomical tide". High atmospheric pressure, and other factors can reduce predicted heights.
 
Thonord said:
This summer, however we will visit Scotland. (To Inverness, through the Caleconian and home through Pentland firth).
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If you are unfamiliar with tides, you are going to have fun in Pentland :). Depth is not the issue. 16 knots maximum flow can liven your day. Follow the guidance in the pilot. Wait in Scrabster until conditions are right. The habour master is an overfall of knowledge on the area. When I was last waiting in Scrabster it was £10 a night, or for as long as you need for the right conditions. He really doesn't want anyone to go before they should.
 
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ProDave said:
For further ahead, download and run the program WXtide32
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Thanks for the heads up on Wxtide32.
It has a commandline interface, so I can integrate the tidal data into my own application. My intention was to "webpage scrape" the BBC tide page. It has the most detailed UK tidal info I have found yet (5 min resolution and five days forcast)

Pitty about the greedy English authorities who charge for statistical data and harmonics, collected using taxpayer funds. Wxtide is slightly off in UK waters after last years court decisions.

Not like in the US where what the taxpayer pays for, the taxpayer gets.

Tom
 
Tidal streams are far more important up here in the north west highlands than height.
The west coast sea lochs are just fjords by another name. For example in Loch Nevis you could in theory moor against the south side with 300 metres of water below and 100 metres of sheer cliff above!
The tidal stream in Kylerea between Skye and the mainland can run up to 10 knots in either direction! During the first world war the Captain of a Naval Destroyer tried to go through against the tide and ended up across the narrows.
Some years ago I met someone who had tried to go through the Corran Narrows south of Fort William with wind over tide and lost the wing keel on the big yacht he was on not through touching the bottom but through dropping off a standing wave.
If you make use of the tidal streams however you can for example run from Fort William at the mouth of the Caledonian Canal on a falling tide in time to catch the rising tide northwards through the Sound of Mull and up to Loch Nevis.
The online forcasts are great and I must admit that I have a link on my mobile phone .
You might like to take a look at
www.mdr.co.nz
it might be lacking in UK Harmonics but certainly in the past he could provide these on request.
 
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Tom,

despite all the scary tales of supersonic tides, it's a lovely area and something like Reeds' Almanac and a tidal streams Atlas should see you OK.

Maybe more important, have plenty of mosquito / midge insect repellant !
 
Seajet said:
despite all the scary tales of supersonic tides, it's a lovely area and something like Reeds' Almanac and a tidal streams Atlas should see you OK.
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I agree, it's all lovely, and the tidal streams are mostly manageable. But Pentland is special. It truly is a scary place of dragons and watery devils. I've heard that on the Orkney ferry they not only bolt the tables to the deck, but the captain's boots are screwed to the floor on the bridge.
 
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AngusMcDoon said:
I agree, it's all lovely, and the tidal streams are mostly manageable. But Pentland is special. It truly is a scary place of dragons and watery devils. I've heard that on the Orkney ferry they not only bolt the tables to the deck, but the captain's boots are screwed to the floor on the bridge.
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That is of course true! I mind being on the ferry over to Orkney, and my Whisky becoming airborn as both myself, the glass and the bar I was bracing myself against dropped into a huge trough. Not a happy Scotsman!!

Tom, just listen to the locals when you get to the Pentland Firth. They will help you out without confusing you. As for the rest, buy the relevant pilot book.
 
I think you will find the Tidal atlases very useful for navigating around Scotland. NP 252 - East /North, NP 209 - Orkney / Shetland / Pentland Firth and NP218 for the West coast.
You will find they all provide references from different local Tidal stations, Ullapool, Oban etc, but these have know off sets to HW Dover - which is pretty widely used as a base line.
I think that other than pilot books, they are the most widely used documents on the boat :D

You'll have a great time.. never mind the midges ..

Graeme
 
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