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I am new to tides (no tides to speak of in the Great Lakes). I know what I was taught in Piloting classes about tides, but now to apply them.
Someone at the marina I am staying in on my way to Annapolis told me…. When I leave Cape May for the C&D Canal, I should leave 2 hours AFTER low tide ( maybe it was 2 hours after Low slack tide) to be able to ride the tide up the bay. That, if Leave AT low tide – the tide would PASS ME BY…… didn’t make sense to me.
So, I thought I’d show my stupidity to the forum here…. and ask the question.
alanPost generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum
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Generally speaking, Alan, the currents and tides are out of sync slightly – the current continues for a few minutes to a couple of hours after high or low tide before it switches. Think of the mass of water and the inertia associated with all the outflow (or inflow, for that matter). You can see it doesn't just stop and turn.
The same thing occurs with the East River and New York Harbor and the Hudson, too. You'd want to round the Battery two hours after low.
You can look, I believe, in Eldridge's for a picture of the current at Cape May. If not, there are tide charts for the Delaware online.
Good luck and fair tides!
Bob
On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 11:28 AM, Alan < ([email][/email])> wrote:
I am new to tides (no tides to speak of in the Great Lakes). I know what I was taught in Piloting classes about tides, but now to apply them.
Someone at the marina I am staying in on my way to Annapolis told me…. When I leave Cape May for the C&D Canal, I should leave 2 hours AFTER low tide ( maybe it was 2 hours after Low slack tide) to be able to ride the tide up the bay. That, if Leave AT low tide – the tide would PASS ME BY…… didn't make sense to me.
So, I thought I'd show my stupidity to the forum here…. and ask the question.
alan—
Bob Fine
s/v Pelican
Hull #8Post generated from Pearson424 Forum using Mail2Forum
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Alan
The tides and currents are out of phase. The current is not normally flowing at either high nor low tide. Max flow is typically somewhere near mid-tide. I suggest getting a computer charting program that displays Tides-and-Currents.Many years ago when I first met my lovely wife we cruised to Provincetown Mass. Being a lake girl, she had little experince with tides. She tied the dinghy to the town pier rather than the town float. A few hours later it was hanging in midair by the painter.
Regards
Rich
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Alan,
I’ve ridden the tide up & down the Delaware River a bunch of times, though it’s been a while. I believe Bob is correct. If you leave just at slack low in Cape May and charge on up the Delaware River, you might “catch up with” the mass of water still ebbing farther up the river. I’d wait a couple of hours after slack low in Cape May, then go.
Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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I knew them being ut of phase from the text books. I guess what Tor says makes sense. If I leave on slack tide at Cap May, the water is still coming out of the river as I travel up river. I need to wait an hour or two until it slack tide there (up river) also.
I have xtide32 running in the tool tray so I know the times at the different stations. My C-80 gives me tide and currents also.
thanks guys
alan
(newbie saltwater sailor)
alan— On Fri, 9/25/09, Silver Heels <> wrote:
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Alan,
The advice your received at the marina (and that from Bob and Tor) is sound (although I haven't gone back to the tables to verify timings). The basic goal is to arrive at the mouth of the C&D canal at nearly slack tide on the Delaware and you want to pass the power plant (the region of max current) on a flood tide. The goal is to avoid the ebb tide on the Delaware for your trip to the C&D canal. Given it's about a six hour passage on a 424 leaving Cape May at slack before flood should give you that condition.
When the tide turns to ebb on the Delaware the current flows into the C&D canal so it is a fair current to the Chesapeake.
My advice is to try to complete the transit of the C&D Canal before sunset and anchor in Bohemia Creek just off the Elk River on the Cheapeake side. Bohemia is very shallow, but if you stay in the center you should find a really nice anchorage. I don't recommend the dredged basin at the USCG station as the holding is very poor. There used to be a restaurant with a pier in that basin as another option. Also there used to be a restaurant on the canal opposite of the basin that would let you tie up. It's been 22 years since the last time I went through the C&D canal so get a copy of the Waterway Guide, if you don't already have one.On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 12:59 PM, Silver Heels < ([email][/email])> wrote:
Quote:Alan,
I've ridden the tide up & down the Delaware River a bunch of times, though it's been a while. I believe Bob is correct. If you leave just at slack low in Cape May and charge on up the Delaware River, you might “catch up with” the mass of water still ebbing farther up the river. I'd wait a couple of hours after slack low in Cape May, then go.
Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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I might add, once you get in Chesapeake tidal currents are not a major factor. There are only a few places on the Chesapeake where I planned my transit with the tides (e.g., Kedges Strait).
On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 3:24 PM, John Stevenson < ([email][/email])> wrote:
Quote:Alan,
The advice your received at the marina (and that from Bob and Tor) is sound (although I haven't gone back to the tables to verify timings). The basic goal is to arrive at the mouth of the C&D canal at nearly slack tide on the Delaware and you want to pass the power plant (the region of max current) on a flood tide. The goal is to avoid the ebb tide on the Delaware for your trip to the C&D canal. Given it's about a six hour passage on a 424 leaving Cape May at slack before flood should give you that condition.
When the tide turns to ebb on the Delaware the current flows into the C&D canal so it is a fair current to the Chesapeake.
My advice is to try to complete the transit of the C&D Canal before sunset and anchor in Bohemia Creek just off the Elk River on the Cheapeake side. Bohemia is very shallow, but if you stay in the center you should find a really nice anchorage. I don't recommend the dredged basin at the USCG station as the holding is very poor. There used to be a restaurant with a pier in that basin as another option. Also there used to be a restaurant on the canal opposite of the basin that would let you tie up. It's been 22 years since the last time I went through the C&D canal so get a copy of the Waterway Guide, if you don't already have one.On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 12:59 PM, Silver Heels < ([email][/email])> wrote:
Quote:Alan,
I've ridden the tide up & down the Delaware River a bunch of times, though it's been a while. I believe Bob is correct. If you leave just at slack low in Cape May and charge on up the Delaware River, you might “catch up with” the mass of water still ebbing farther up the river. I'd wait a couple of hours after slack low in Cape May, then go.
Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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Original Message
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Yep, John definitely gets the Best Answer award on this one.
Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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Hey I'm a Chesapeake guy. http://www.svsarah.com/Sailing/SailingChesapeake.htm
On Fri, Sep 25, 2009 at 3:56 PM, Silver Heels < ([email][/email])> wrote:
Quote:Yep, John definitely gets the Best Answer award on this one.Tor
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Silver Heels, P-424 #17
http://www.SilverHeels.us
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Alan-
Another thing about tides that is a bit of a problem that we experienced in Atlantic Cityand Wrightsville Beach and elsewhere is anchoring if the tide and wind oppose each other. Usually, tide prevails, but if the wind is strong, it is not unlikely that the boat will lie heading into wind, but the rode pulling aft and the anchor behind the boat due to tide.
This creates a significat risk that you can foul the prop with the anchor rode. My only advice is to be very, very careful in this situation. Perhaps some of the more experienced sailors on the forum have some advice.
Quent -
This happened to me once many years ago. I anchored in a tidal area one evening and woke up over a mile from where I anchored. The boat dragged over several sandbars and was in a relatively deep spot when I woke up. The nylon rhode wrapped between the keel and rudder, leaving the boat broadside to the current.
I anchor with all chain now. This can’t happen with chain. Yet another reason to go with all chain. A sentinel can help prevent this if you really want to stick with nylon.
Rich
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