Leaving the med: tidal flows at Gibraltar?

Much easier with the wind in the East but remember the force will increase toward Tarifa.

What complicates this is that there is a permanent current flow into the Med. On the N side of the Straight, the tide goes slack about +3 Gib before running W, overcoming the current between about +4 & -4 Gib. There is W going tide slightly further S until about -2 but after that the current will overcome it until it turns again. The tides and current seem to flow in well defined but variable bands so watch the sea state or your VMG to keep best advantage.

This is based on a handy little booklet called the Straits Sailing Handbook picked up from Hercules. So far I've only come into Gib from the Atlantic, I havent tried getting out again!
 
nigelmercier said:
I'm planning on starting the passage from Gibraltar to the Canary Islands in the next few weeks. I've heard warnings about choosing the right tides to do this in, but now I've starting planning I can't find any definitive info on this.

Any thoughts?
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Hiya.

The Straits Sailing Handbook is stocked in both Sheppards Chandlers and Albor Newsagents, Marina Bay.

If you want any specific advice, do give me a shout, have done it loads! Including last week with a westerly blowing. Mmm. Lovely.
 
Remember also to use the convergence/divergence effect to your benefit if you need more/less wind. It can have quite a pronounced influence there.

Also, there's a certain night around this time of year when every single fishing boat seems to leave Tarifa at the same time in the dead of night. Not sure what it's all about, some traditional seasonal ritual perhaps. It can be a little alarming as it seems like there are hundreds of boats bearing down on you. Rest assured though that at least a few of them will have a person at the wheel. Some, particularly those in the big rusty steel boats, will get very close and wave, or maybe it's gesticulation, others may throw rotting bait fish. Just throw them back and hold your course.
 
With your back to the wind, there will be more wind on the shoreline to your right since the wind backs over the land in relation to the wind over the water and hence converges with it.

On the shoreline to your left, the backing of the wind over the land causes it to diverge from that over the water, giving you less.

The difference can be a few knots, up to about 25% difference in wind speed. The effect extends as much as 3 miles offshore. Getting out of a convergence zone can be well worthwhile if beating into a strong blow. Getting into one can provide relief from slatting and banging sails when running in barely enough breeze. Past Tarifa you'll be doing one or the other most days of the year. The wind there knows little of north or south.
 
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Hmm, I suspect that any convergence effect is lost in the 'venturi' effect of the strait. Whichever way the wind blows, E or W, it increases in the direction of flow through the strait.

We came in from the W with a forecast W F4/5, saw just over 20kts at Tarifa and somewhere in the mid 40s rounding Punta Carnera. Since we stayed close to the N shore, you might have expected the wind to diverge and decrease - didnt happen!
 
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Totally agree, Robbie. You would have to be a very astute observer to pull out any coastal friction from all the other stuff going on.

The tides, current, drift current, venturi, headland windshifts, downdrafts from hills etc give you enough to think about!

Stiil, off up to Seville at end of month so if I notice anything different from the last 80 odd transits, I will of course report in. Over a glass of tinto?? :)

CS
 
Last year I went in and out between Gibraltar/Ceuta/Smir and what was then my home port of Barbate, 15-20 times.

At first I tried hard working the tidal atlas, but found it so inaccurate and variable I gave up and just made sure the wind was from astern - or very light and motored.

Because of the time it takes to get through, you are almost inevitably going to get some fair and some foul tide. On one occasion, Tarifa was interesting with gusts to 60k and its wonderful how fast a boat will go downwind with just a few inches of head-sail out!

It really is the wind strength and direction that's important and don't be fooled by what it's like in Marina Bay or Queensway Quay... Worth listening to the Tarifa or Tangier radio, hourly broadcasts of actual and forecast conditions - they call on 16 then change to a working channel.
 
I agree that the effects I mention will often be masked by more pronounced effects caused by the geography of the area. I intended to mention it but ran out of enthusiasm for typing on a phone keyboard.

On occasion I've definitely picked up more wind in light westerley conditions by closing the southern shore. I guess I'm either very astute, or the wind has just happened to have been on the up anyway. If it wasn't astuteness, which is quite possible :) , I'll console myself that the notion of gaining a freeing effect was beneficial too, tides and currents permitting of course.
 
Paw Paw said:
Last year I went in and out between Gibraltar/Ceuta/Smir and what was then my home port of Barbate, 15-20 times.

At first I tried hard working the tidal atlas, but found it so inaccurate and variable I gave up and just made sure the wind was from astern - or very light and motored.

Because of the time it takes to get through, you are almost inevitably going to get some fair and some foul tide. On one occasion, Tarifa was interesting with gusts to 60k and its wonderful how fast a boat will go downwind with just a few inches of head-sail out!

It really is the wind strength and direction that's important and don't be fooled by what it's like in Marina Bay or Queensway Quay... Worth listening to the Tarifa or Tangier radio, hourly broadcasts of actual and forecast conditions - they call on 16 then change to a working channel.
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Yeah, the tides dont always seem to behave quite as stated, there are many other effects to consider but most atlases go by the admiralty survey that makes the predictions on the Straits chart. You can google other surveys, notably the effect in some sea and tide states of the 'Cariminal Ridge' and its ripple effect into the Med.

Sometimes, to be honest, I just go! Did that 2 weeks ago on a trip to Cadiz, entered Straits at Carnero, lunchtime, tied up in Barbatte 2300ish!

Re VHF, forecasts alternate as you mention but every 2 hours. Starting1215 UTC at Tarifa 0n ch10, then 2 hours later 1415 UTC ch69 Tanger. Obviously 2 hour time difference now. Often late though, must have wasted years of my life waiting for forecast!

And always, downwind end will be windier. A east 3 off Europa will be 5 or 6 at Tarifa and beyond, W4 at Tarifa will be old boots between Gib and Ceuta. Honking today!
 
Simondjuk said:
I agree that the effects I mention will often be masked by more pronounced effects caused by the geography of the area. I intended to mention it but ran out of enthusiasm for typing on a phone keyboard.

On occasion I've definitely picked up more wind in light westerley conditions by closing the southern shore. I guess I'm either very astute, or the wind has just happened to have been on the up anyway. If it wasn't astuteness, which is quite possible :) , I'll console myself that the notion of gaining a freeing effect was beneficial too, tides and currents permitting of course.
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:)
 
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