Current Predictions Several Weeks Out

[Foswick]

I'm looking for current predictions for a specific location (Cattle Pass, between the southern tips of San Juan Island and Lopez Island). We have a meetup north of there next month (Aug 15-17) and we are thinking we will take the scenic route, which takes us through Cattle Pass either on the way there or the way back. I just realized that the current predictions I have only go a week or two in the future.

Based on tide predictions and experience, I can make a pretty educated guess, but I was curious if anyone knew of a good source of granular predictions more than a couple of weeks in the future.

Really, we're just trying to decide whether we want to circumnavigate Lopez Island clockwise, anticlockwise, or half-and-half. The other issue is that we will entering/exiting Fisherman's Bay, which isn't advisable until tide reaches about +2 ft. So, that adds another timing element.

 

[Charles Erwin]

Assume you have an iphone? If so try this app

‎PNW Current Atlas

 

[Foswick]

Thanks! I took a look and ended up not installing it because it looks like this is just the information from Canadian Atlas of Tidal Currents. I forgot that we have the printed version of that. For some reason, I wasn't thinking analog.

 

[Charles Erwin]

Coverage is

• The US San Juan Islands
• The Canadian Gulf Islands
• The Eastern Juan de Fuca Strait, and more
• 
  Bye for now

 

[dLj]

Essentially, the computer models cover a short time frame. The are pretty good three days out, a bit less five days out, and progressively decrease in accuracy as the time extends. Most models that I'm aware of don't go beyond two weeks.

For longer ranger weather I use the pilot charts..

sj

 

[Michael Davis]

I use “Aye Tides” a lot. Works for me.

 

[jssailem]

Take a look at DeepZoom.com. It is a project by a couple of Microsoft Sailing engineers.
You set the date or time frame and you can see the currents for the locations you desire. Or you can check out the Whole San Juan Island chain.

 

[jssailem]

Waggoner’s prints the Ports and Passes guide for tidal data covering the waters from the Puget Sound to the Alaskan Coastline.

Apple Store has an app Tide Charts that does a good job of reporting the tide data. You have to interrupt the current flow info.

Here is a map of the tide reporting locations they cover in the San Juan’s and surrounding area.

 

[jssailem]

we will entering/exiting Fisherman's Bay,

Have a good chart of the entrance. It is tricky. There be rocky shoals in them waters.

 

[Foswick]

Take a look at DeepZoom.com.

That did the trick. Thank you. As I really just needed to know direction and approximate speed at a specific point, that works great.

As it turns out, it is going the right direction at the right time on both days we want to pass. We've had uncannily good luck this season with winds and currents in our favor. We are quite used to going directly against both, most of the time.

 

[Foswick]

Have a good chart of the entrance. It is tricky. There be rocky shoals in them waters.

We draft less than 4 feet, which helps. But, yes, we've been there a few times and seen several people run aground. We just go with at least +2 tide and follow the markers - no problem.