Petition to the PM - Release of tidal data

[FullCircle]

http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Tidetable-data/


We have been asked to circulate the following message which relates to a "PM.GOV Petition" asking for tide table information to be made available at no cost:

"This may well be of concern to all of our sailing friends, or friends who have friends who go down to the sea in ships - small or otherwise. Please could you go to the following web site: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/Tidetable-data , and sign the petition. We believe that this data should be available to all in any form that they desire. Effectively it seems to us that the Government is trying to copyright a natural phenomenon. Move over Canute!

If you think it important enough, please could you forward the information on to your friends as well. The timescale for this petition is short - so please spare a few minutes to do this".

 

[BlueSkyNick]

The synoptic charts direct from the Met Office instead of second hand via Germany doesnt seem to much to ask, either.

 

[Heckler]

Done
Stu

 

[Ruffles]

Years ago an American university set up an on-line facility to show global tidal data. This was before these things were generally available. They were immediately forced to withdraw the service for the UK by the UKHO to protect their precious tidal constants. Deeply embarrassing IMO since we were the only country to do so.

 

[exfinnsailor]

Do you realise how much they make out of the DATA .. Someone has to pay for the LUXURY Offices .. and the 6 figure salaries .. They threatend one company who had free data on the internet .. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif It should be free .. and we should still have a fishing fleet .. and no speed cameras .. and no roadside white vans with cameras in them .. and retire at 40 so we can go sailing .. You can try but i dont think it will ever happen .. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif .. Mind you the STATES have charts you can download of the Internet for FREE .. and TIDAL Predictions ..

 

[Gunfleet]

We have a long tradition in Britain of the government selling us things we've already paid for once. Remember National Insurance? BT? The railways? Now you've accepted the principle you can't baulk at a few quid for tides. Otherwise, how will we afford all those MPs pensions?

 

[webcraft]

Done it.

I got some pretty threatening correspondence a few years ago when I still had WX-Tide with UK ports available as a download.

IN this area if nowhere else the Americans are way ahead of us . . .

- W

 

[ITH]

Done, but as only the 574th signature on the list it isn't exactly a convincing number. I've sent this to the RYA requesting them to push for it - has anybody seen any references to it on the RYA web site?

 

[colingr]

Done

 

[Talbot]

Done

 

[Aardee]

Done

 

[Kilter]

Dunnit!

 

[Endeavourquay]

done /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

 

[oldsaltoz]

G'day ex_finn_sailor and all,

Not sure it will help but we get the tide tables for the full year in the local telephone directory, and the phone book is free, also available on the net here in Queensland Oz.

Avagoodweekend......

 

[lydiamight]

Done

 

[cpedw]

You can get synoptics direct here in colour, though they keep changing the URL which makes finding them a pain.

Derek

 

[RobBrown]

Me too!

 

[pyrojames]

I use these ones, as they give multiple predictions for the same time so that variability is taken into account.

 

[Seven Spades]

As I understand it if you collect the data yourself you can use it and publish it. At the moment the UKHO collated the data and it is their IP. However, the French published data for some UK standard ports over 50 years ago and it is out of copyright, however it is old data and not as accurate as the latest data.

If you have a Palm Pilot or Palm Treo you can download the programme "Tide Tool" and harmonics for a lot of the major ports across the world. The publisher of this programme had to withdraw the accurate version under pressure from the UKHO, but has been allowed to use the old data. In my experience it is very close to the collect data.

http://www.toolworks.com/bilofsky/tidetool/index.html

 

[Rooster]

Done! Just trying to get my 100th post.

R