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Re: Allowing for current. was: Re: Noon sun fix example
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2009 Oct 1, 10:41 +0100
From: George Huxtable
Date: 2009 Oct 1, 10:41 +0100
contact George Huxtable, at george@hux.me.uk or at +44 1865 820222 (from UK, 01865 820222) or at 1 Sandy Lane, Southmoor, Abingdon, Oxon OX13 5HX, UK. ----- Original Message ----- From:To: Sent: Thursday, October 01, 2009 12:54 AM Subject: [NavList 10005] Re: Allowing for current. was: [NavList 9997] Re: Noon sun fix example Now I don't want you to get paranoid George and think I am 'getting at you' as I assure you when I disagree with you it is not a personal attack! (which I am beginning to feel you might think); however, I have heard this chestnut a number of times and it simply does not work with a sailing vessel. (i.e. a 'stick and flag' type of vessel). The 'stink and rag' boys get over there so fast it doesn't matter anyway. The differences actually experienced with the tidal streams in the English Channel as you cross for a variety of reasons are not symetrical and you get shoved one way more than the other. I know I have done it. Probably such things as the topology of the Channel sea-bed; swirls of current around bays; the Alderney race flushing out across the Channel; faster stream near the centre but more one side than the other ..who knows? I guess a thousand and one reasons for it. Another fine theory in principle, that does not work out practically. Even when allowing for tidal streams every half hour with the DR plot as I used to do, there can still be differences appearing which make the passage lop-sided as you cross, but one thing is certain - this gives a much better end result than a 'straight ahead' strategy over the tidal cycle. There are too many variables for such a simplistic approach. I have to admit I have not done it for some years so would be interested to know of anyone who has done it recently with GPS to guide them. I only had LF beacons such as St Catherine's Point on the IOW, and Nab Tower... or best of all: Mk I eyeball when there wasn't fog or rain or cloud. Douglas Denny. Chichester. England. ========================== Original Post: This was triggered by Jeremy's reference to the effect of current, but it's about a rather different situation, of tidal currents. It's arisen here before, a long time ago. I can illustrate it best by a little problem that faces many small-boat navigators crossing the English Channel, between Anvil Point, a headland South of Poole, and Cherbourg, to its South by about 50 miles. I will simplify the details, but for many small craft that passage will take about 12 hours, or just two tides' worth. Say the tide flows at about 2.5 knots, a total displacement of about 11 miles East, over the first 6-hour period; then 11 miles West, over the next 6 hours.. Many navigators will set the destination of Cherbourg as an intended waypoint, then religiously adjust their heading to keep their ground-track along that intended line, angling against the current to keep it so. They are, of course, wasting time and energy. Because, over 12 hours, the net tidal displacement, East then West, will sum up to be close to zero, there will be no overall effect of tidal current. In which case, the correct and easy procedure is to head due South, allowing your craft to be swept up-channel first, then back again later. By ignoring the instantaneous tide, and the resulting cross-track error, the vessel is heading exactly Southwards all the time; the best that can be done. Indeed, set out like that, it seems pretty obvious, but it's hard to convince many navigators that they can, and should, ignore those warnings of cross-track error. George. contact George Huxtable, --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ NavList message boards: www.fer3.com/arc Or post by email to: NavList@fer3.com To , email NavList-@fer3.com -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---