Hi All, I have been doing a lot of thinking about tides and currents this weekend. I went through a tight pass, I was volunteering for Predicted Log Race that also went through the same pass where currents reached 6 knots at max, and I'm taking Advanced Piloting at the Power Squadron where we are predicting currents the old fashioned way. I posted some of my experiences on my blog and if others have their own and would post them there it would enrich the discussion. If you have time and an insight, educational experience (good or bad) or tip to share please post a note at the link posted below. Sometimes the articles I learn the most from are others mistakes! Thanks, Bonnie http://catalina28.blogspot.com/
Tides and Currents - Tips and Insights
- Thread starter Bonnie Riser
- Start date
- Status
Bonnie, I visited your blog and
you seem to be getting a handle on the currents, and on those in the Sound in Particular. The thing you haven't mention is the effect of current on waves, especially with an opposing wind. For example there is an area just north of Point Wilson where the Sound empties out into the Straits. There is a shoal area there and with a strong ebb and a West wind the seas can get quite large and steep. The Same may happen at Deception Pass but there it is more localized. Higgs included link in "a scary event" earlier in this thread which showed a boat getting pooped or broached and rolled over by a wave accented by shoals and a strong ebb under the Golden Gate Bridge. If you haven't seen it you should go back and view it. BTW you never did say where your home port is. Good Sailing Joe S
you seem to be getting a handle on the currents, and on those in the Sound in Particular. The thing you haven't mention is the effect of current on waves, especially with an opposing wind. For example there is an area just north of Point Wilson where the Sound empties out into the Straits. There is a shoal area there and with a strong ebb and a West wind the seas can get quite large and steep. The Same may happen at Deception Pass but there it is more localized. Higgs included link in "a scary event" earlier in this thread which showed a boat getting pooped or broached and rolled over by a wave accented by shoals and a strong ebb under the Golden Gate Bridge. If you haven't seen it you should go back and view it. BTW you never did say where your home port is. Good Sailing Joe S
Tides and Currents
Hi Joe, Thank you for visiting my blog and for the excellent input. If you think of anything else please add it, it's a great reminder. Would you mind if I posted your comment on my blog site? Thanks Joe, Bonnie Rieser http://catalina28.blogspot.com/
Hi Joe, Thank you for visiting my blog and for the excellent input. If you think of anything else please add it, it's a great reminder. Would you mind if I posted your comment on my blog site? Thanks Joe, Bonnie Rieser http://catalina28.blogspot.com/
Correction Factors
As you probably know, there were several other sailboaters on that "race" including myself. Nothing like going for a ride with someone elses fuel. The boat I was on was burning 38 gallons/hour! Had a discussion with the skipper about it and he said when you consider the cost of the boat, about $1/2M, the annual maintenance costs, moorage, insurance, etc., fuel is a fairly small item and for the little amount of time he has available he likes to get out there and go. We were averaging over 15kts in "economy mode". The skipper stayed on a very tight course and didn't veer intentionally at all. He had two helpers that did sightings, navigation adjustments, etc. He called the "mark"s using a mirror to get it bisected or at right angles. The downside to this is we passed several other boats close abeam and this 50-footer threw a pretty mean wake. By close, I mean just a few boat lengths. One was a couple in an older sailboat, say, 30/32 feet or so, towing a dingy. They got rolled pretty good. Another sailboat coming out of Hidden Harbor on a course perpendicular to ours luffed to avoid getting any closer when we went by. Then there was a couple boats in Agate Pass that took our wake even though there was supposed to be basically no wake but our boat even going slow still had a pretty good wake. Bottom line, I think there should be a correction/adjustment factor thrown in for these, say, infractions. The skipper couldn't stay for dinner because of a meeting he had to attend so he ran back to Seattle at cruise speed. $$$ A second correction/adjustment factor could be for the carbon footprint. The more fuel you burn the more time you get adjusted for. As it is, the faster boats apparently have a mathmatical edge over the slower boats. It was an interesting experience.
As you probably know, there were several other sailboaters on that "race" including myself. Nothing like going for a ride with someone elses fuel. The boat I was on was burning 38 gallons/hour! Had a discussion with the skipper about it and he said when you consider the cost of the boat, about $1/2M, the annual maintenance costs, moorage, insurance, etc., fuel is a fairly small item and for the little amount of time he has available he likes to get out there and go. We were averaging over 15kts in "economy mode". The skipper stayed on a very tight course and didn't veer intentionally at all. He had two helpers that did sightings, navigation adjustments, etc. He called the "mark"s using a mirror to get it bisected or at right angles. The downside to this is we passed several other boats close abeam and this 50-footer threw a pretty mean wake. By close, I mean just a few boat lengths. One was a couple in an older sailboat, say, 30/32 feet or so, towing a dingy. They got rolled pretty good. Another sailboat coming out of Hidden Harbor on a course perpendicular to ours luffed to avoid getting any closer when we went by. Then there was a couple boats in Agate Pass that took our wake even though there was supposed to be basically no wake but our boat even going slow still had a pretty good wake. Bottom line, I think there should be a correction/adjustment factor thrown in for these, say, infractions. The skipper couldn't stay for dinner because of a meeting he had to attend so he ran back to Seattle at cruise speed. $$$ A second correction/adjustment factor could be for the carbon footprint. The more fuel you burn the more time you get adjusted for. As it is, the faster boats apparently have a mathmatical edge over the slower boats. It was an interesting experience.
Correction Factors Predicted Log Race/ Tides and Currents
Hi John, Really interesting ideas for log racing and safety. The racers I have been with don't want to veer either but of course they will if there would be an accident and then they can take a time out. But the wakes is another valid consideration. We also passed other boats with little room to spare but happily they were other racers. I was feeling sorry for that little sailboat going through Agate Pass. I looked back off the stern of the boat I was on and there was this guy tacking near of the shore of Agate Pass just North of the Bridge and I could see about 8 of the race boats (going about 7 or 8 knots) charging (well from the perspective of a sailor) into the pass. I have taken a lot of classes but I had no idea what their race flag was or meant. I sure do now and as a sailor I will give them wide berth! I find in Agate pass the wakes compound and and can get pretty high with just a couple of power boaters in there if the timing is just right for the wakes to join up. Would you mind if I posted your comment on my blog? Bonnie
Hi John, Really interesting ideas for log racing and safety. The racers I have been with don't want to veer either but of course they will if there would be an accident and then they can take a time out. But the wakes is another valid consideration. We also passed other boats with little room to spare but happily they were other racers. I was feeling sorry for that little sailboat going through Agate Pass. I looked back off the stern of the boat I was on and there was this guy tacking near of the shore of Agate Pass just North of the Bridge and I could see about 8 of the race boats (going about 7 or 8 knots) charging (well from the perspective of a sailor) into the pass. I have taken a lot of classes but I had no idea what their race flag was or meant. I sure do now and as a sailor I will give them wide berth! I find in Agate pass the wakes compound and and can get pretty high with just a couple of power boaters in there if the timing is just right for the wakes to join up. Would you mind if I posted your comment on my blog? Bonnie
- Status