OpenCPN Tides and Currents

[Playtime]

I'm using OpenCPN 2.5.0 and can see tides for the UK and Netherlands/Germany plus North America and Australia.

I can't see any currents except for North America.

Is there any additional OpenCPN tide/current data available for northern Europe? I'm especially looking for currents for UK/France and tides for France.

 

[Roberto]

Is there any additional OpenCPN tide/current data available for northern Europe? I'm especially looking for currents for UK/France and tides for France.

yes there is, it has been done by a forumite on French forum hisse-et-oh for France tides and streams and also parts of the Channel. Note the curve on the image is for tidal stream speed, not tide height. (To have tides you should click the other menu button on opencpn)

I understand stream data has been taken from tidal diamonds, so it is not so detailed as tidal stream atlases, besides there is only one value, not two as in spring and neaps. If that is enough for safe navigation depends on the type of sailing done.

Inside the opencpn directory called "tcdata" you have to rename the two files called "Harmonic" and "Harmonic.IDX" to say HARMONIC OLD and "harmonic.idx old" or whatever other name, then copy the two new files Harmonic and Harmonic.idx in the same directory.

The reason to keep the old ones is that when you install the new files, you will only have tidal and tidal stream data for France or thereabouts, *not* for all the rest of the world, should you want to sail in the bay of Fundy it would be better to reinstall the files you have renamed.

I'll find a link to the data file, there was a newer version recently IIRC


Here they are, the files have been posted in several forum so seem in public domain

https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0BzWFudy66pnENmE2YWE3YmUtOThlNy00MWIyLWJkYmItNjZlYjhlMmM1MDdm&hl=fr

taken from
http://www.hisse-et-oh.com/forums/equipements/messages/1057294-harmonics-v7-fr-pour-opencpn


where you can check that several people have downloaded and tried them without any kind of IT disaster

 

[Playtime]

Hi Roberto

I've just downloaded the files and they work fine.

That was exactly what I was looking for - many thanks.

I do my passage planning using the 'real thing' (i.e. paper) but the real time info is useful as a check on passage.

 

[RobBrown]

Roberto- equally thanks for the link and guidelines I have also successfully downloaded the files.

 

[Conachair]

Thanks for the link Roberto, something I've been after for ages.

Though is everyone else getting tidal diamonds which you can click on?

I'm getting arrows on the charts, presumably showing direction but no diamonds to click on.

Using opencpn Version 2.6.1223 Build 2011-12-23

Ta

 

[Pye_End]

Thanks for the link Roberto, something I've been after for ages.

Though is everyone else getting tidal diamonds which you can click on?

I'm getting arrows on the charts, presumably showing direction but no diamonds to click on.

Using opencpn Version 2.6.1223 Build 2011-12-23

Ta

Looks like a diamond zoomed out, and an arrow zoomed in. Right click on the object to get the pop up box.

 

[Conachair]

Looks like a diamond zoomed out, and an arrow zoomed in. Right click on the object to get the pop up box.

Nope, even zoomed all the way in just arrows. And only out to sea, nothing on the coast.

What version you on?

 

[Playtime]

Nope, even zoomed all the way in just arrows. And only out to sea, nothing on the coast.

What version you on?

Maybe you should revert to 2.5.0. There are still some problems with the 2.6 beta - maybe you've found one of them!

There's a lot of info on OpenCPN on the CruiserForum here.

 

[Pye_End]

Nope, even zoomed all the way in just arrows. And only out to sea, nothing on the coast.

What version you on?

2.5.0

Did the instructions above and am getting similar to Roberto's post above (although his sea looks rather more detailed than mine - not sure why!)

 

[Conachair]

Maybe you should revert to 2.5.0. There are still some problems with the 2.6 beta - maybe you've found one of them!

There's a lot of info on OpenCPN on the CruiserForum here.

Suspect that may well be it.

Missing google earth plug in as well.

 

[Progenator]

Good Morning all! thanks for the links but disfortunately they're not working now, I just get Error 404 when I try to get those current/tide downloads for northern France. Does anyone know where I can get them currently (sorry), cheers Jules

 

[Roberto]

Good Morning all! thanks for the links but disfortunately they're not working now, I just get Error 404 when I try to get those current/tide downloads for northern France. Does anyone know where I can get them currently (sorry), cheers Jules

it's the file "Harmonic_v9" at this address, just unzip it and you have the "Harmonic" files to be copied into the proper OpenCpn directory

http://pierre.lavergne1.free.fr/telechargements/opencpn/


As it happens, there is also a recent opencpn development allowing to use *both* these diamonds and the VisitMyHarbour tidal data for the UK, I'll see if I can find the info in English

 

[GHA]

Thanks for that link, now installed.

 

[Roberto]

there are some other bits of interesting stuff there..

In this page, there are a number of Google Earth captures in partial transparency with charts for various sea areas (not a lot in the UK though), one can make them by himself with GE2KAP but there the work has already been done, they are .kap files that can be read by opencpn

http://pierre.lavergne1.free.fr/telechargements/cartoGE/

 

[Progenator]

France area tides

Hi and thanks very much for the reply and link. I'm new to Navigatrix and setting it all up.. very impressive so far. If you have any other current links to info worth having, please let me know and I look forward to seeing the development you mention. cheers Jules

 

[Roberto]

please let me know and I look forward to seeing the development you mention. cheers Jules

The description about using VisitMyHarbour current data together with "Merak56 files" (the files I linked above with the tidal diamonds data) can be found at the following two links.
Sorry it is in French I do not know if there is an English version, nor have I tried them both altogether as I do not have VisitMyHarbour data, but I am told the system functions well.

http://www.shoreline.fr/OpenCPN_V_3...rants/P_52_VisitMyHarbour_Marees_Courants.htm

http://www.shoreline.fr/OpenCPN_V_3...rne/E_63_Marees_Courants_Donnees_externes.htm


regards

 

[bats]

We've had a discussion about UK tidal stream/current data on the Cruisers Forum:

http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/f134/tides-and-currents-125492.html

The VisitMyHarbour (VMH) tcurrent plugin is available as a trial here:

http://www.visitmyharbour.com/articles/3799/uk-tidal-streams-utility-download-now-free-trial

Needs OpenCPN 3.2.2 or later.

If copying the VMH files to your regular OpenCPN the plugin will have problems if you do not leave the original installed harmonics in place (tcdata folder). If you only use Harmonic_v9 files it will fail.

Harmonic_v9 only shows rectilinear tidal currents eg set 072/252. The VMH plugin is based on UKHO tidal diamonds (over 1900!) and sets are shown in all directions. This is especially evident around the Channel Islands.

All feedback is useful.

Mike