Tides

Tidal Streams-
Horizontal
movement of
tides
11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c 1
 Tidal Streams
• As earth rotates
gravitational pull of
moon causes a
wave to move in
from the west – this
is the flood

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

2
 Tidal Streams
• As earth rotates
gravitational pull of
moon causes a
wave to move in
from the west – this
is the flood

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

3
 Tidal Streams

• The tide ebbs in the

opposite direction
• Tidal streams are
affected by
geographical
features

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

4
 Tidal Streams- info
• Arrows on charts

• Tidal Stream Atlas

• Tidal Diamonds

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

5
Tidal Streams - Arrows on charts

• Arrow with
feathers is
flood
• without is ebb

• Found on Irish
charts

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

6
 TIDAL STREAM ATLAS

4 hours after
HW PORTSMOUTH

Atlas gives
Direction &
Rate
of tidal stream
for each hour

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

7
 TIDAL STREAM ATLAS

4 hours after
HW PORTSMOUTH

Short and thin

arrows show
weak stream

Thick and long

arrows show
strong stream

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

8
 TIDAL STREAM ATLAS

Stream
03,05
Slack
Rate of stream
0.3 kn at Neaps
0.5 kn at Springs

Rate of stream
1.2 kn at Neaps
12,23
2.3 kn at Springs

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

9
 Tidal Streams – tidal stream atlas
• Page for each hour Arrow for direction
• Neap speed 13= 1.3 then spring speed 21= 2.1

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

10
 Tidal Streams- Diamonds

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

11
 TIDAL DIAMONDS & DATUMS

3 hours before
HW
Springs
2.9 kn
Neaps
Stream setting 1.5 kn
towards
318(T)

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

12
 HOURS RELATED TO HIGH WATER
Time of High Water = 1200

HW 1200

____________________________________
0930 1030 1130 1230 1330
HW - 2 HW - 1 HW HW + 1

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

13
11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c
14
 Interpolation
Interpolation is working out the difference
between springs and neaps

HW 18:00 Springs 3kn

HW 12:00 Neaps 1kn
HW 15:00 Half way
Then tide speed is 2kn

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

15
Mean Range
PLYMOUTH COMPUTATION OF RATES
TIDAL STREAM RATE (in tenths of a knot)

10 20 30 40 50 60 70
6m

5m
Springs Springs

4m

3m

Neaps Neaps
2m

1m
Tenths of a Knot 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

16
Mean Range
PLYMOUTH
COMPUTATION OF RATES
TIDAL STREAM RATE (in tenths of a knot)

10 20 30 40 50 60 70
6m

5m
Springs Springs

4m Rate of stream at Neaps = 2.3 knots

(from tidal stream atlas or diamonds)
3m

Neaps Neaps
2m

1m
Tenths of a Knot 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

17
Mean Range COMPUTATION OF RATES
PLYMOUTH
TIDAL STREAM RATE (in tenths of a knot)

10 20 30 40 50 60 70
6m

5m
Springs Springs

4m
Rate of stream at Springs = 4.6 knots
3m (from tidal stream atlas or diamonds)

Neaps Neaps
2m

1m
Tenths of a Knot 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

18
 Mean Range COMPUTATION OF RATES
PLYMOUTH
TIDAL STREAM RATE (in tenths of a knot)

10 20 30 40 50 60 70
6m

5m
Springs Springs

4m

3m

Neaps Neaps
2m

1m
Tenths of a Knot 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

19
 Mean Range COMPUTATION OF RATES
PLYMOUTH
TIDAL STREAM RATE (in tenths of a knot)

10 20 30 40 50 60 70
6m

5m
Springs Springs

4m Today’s Range 4.2m

Rate = 4.1 knots
3m

Neaps Neaps
2m

1m
Tenths of a Knot 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

11/24/12 International Sailing Navnotes c

20