Tidal Streams for Iceland

[Dockhead]

For the life of me, I can't find any source for tidal streams in Icelandic waters. Does anyone know a source? I have all of the pilot books and there is nothing expect warnings that the streams run strong in different places. It would be awfully nice to have some information, if anyone knows where I can find it, preferably online.

[Pete7]

Anything in the "CinC" chart pack?

Not quite what you were looking for but a start even if a little heavy going:


http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...?do=file&id=31

[Kenomac]

I use Nobeltec Time Zero (TZ) on my iPad which displays tidal streams. The app is free but the you pay a small fee for the charts.

[Pete7]

I think the logistics of trying to post this to a forward location "post restante" is probably too much, shame, looks like an ideal book.

Atlantic Pilot Atlas Issue 4

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

I use Nobeltec Time Zero (TZ) on my iPad which displays tidal streams. The app is free but the you pay a small fee for the charts.

I've written them to ask if their produce has Iceland tidal streams.


My main nav system when using Navionics cartography shows tide streams, but for some reason they are wildly inaccurate in many places, and I don't use them at all -- can't trust them.



This system does not show anything around Iceland or Faroes.



I use old-fashioned tidal atlases for tidal planning, and around the UK I also use Neptune Plus which is an expensive but fantastic tidal passage planning program. Very useful for a really complex tidal planning job like crossing the English Channel.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Pete7

I think the logistics of trying to post this to a forward location "post restante" is probably too much, shame, looks like an ideal book.

Atlantic Pilot Atlas Issue 4

I have this on board! It's very useful, but it's about prevailing winds and ocean currents, not tidal streams, so of no help in this case.

[Alan Mighty]

Predictions of tidal streams is a rare luxury where I've sailed.

When nothing is known, the Règle des Sixièmes is better than nothing at least when you're in waters of a semi-diurnal tidal regime. See: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2642006

And when that rule doesn't work, it means something else is at play. The sort of thing that every local fisher and dock idler seems to know about (but only after you've confronted the horror of the reality and survived to tell the tale).

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Alan Mighty

Predictions of tidal streams is a rare luxury where I've sailed.

When nothing is known, the Règle des Sixièmes is better than nothing at least when you're in waters of a semi-diurnal tidal regime. See: http://www.cruisersforum.com/forums/...ml#post2642006

And when that rule doesn't work, it means something else is at play. The sort of thing that every local fisher and dock idler seems to know about (but only after you've confronted the horror of the reality and survived to tell the tale).

Ha, ha. Thanks for that.


I guess we're going to fall back on this. We did find one remark in one pilot book -- what time is slack water around one headland. Yay! So now we should be able to get at least a rough idea about the timing of the streams around the other bits.




The pilot books, by the way, are funny -- they all say "beware of strong tidal streams and dangerous races", then don't give a clue as to find out when those conditions occur!

[conachair]

This might be some use?

https://www.yr.no/kart/#lat=64.19948...raum&proj=3575

[TeddyDiver]

Tide varies are generally minor in Iceland, less than one meter in most places so there's no strong tidal streams either. Dunno if there's some narrow sound where such could be possible as most fjords are quite short and open to somewhat deeper ocean?
But any tidal stream along the cost would be shadowed by the stronger Gulf stream and east Greenland stream eddies. Just my 5c..

Teddy

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Tide varies are generally minor in Iceland, less than one meter in most places so there's no strong tidal streams either. Dunno if there's some narrow sound where such could be possible as most fjords are quite short and open to somewhat deeper ocean?
But any tidal stream along the cost would be shadowed by the stronger Gulf stream and east Greenland stream eddies. Just my 5c..

Teddy

I know it's counterintuitive, but sometimes the strongest tidal streams are associated with small tide ranges.


Poole Harbour is one example.


Faroe Islands another -- streams up to 12 knots, and the range is less than a meter.


We do know from the pilot books that tidal streams go up to 4 or 5 knots around the coast. The currents -- primarily the Irminger Current which runs clockwise around the island -- are mostly about 0.5 knots.

[Corsair 2]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I've written them to ask if their produce has Iceland tidal streams.


My main nav system when using Navionics cartography shows tide streams, but for some reason they are wildly inaccurate in many places, and I don't use them at all -- can't trust them.



This system does not show anything around Iceland or Faroes.



I use old-fashioned tidal atlases for tidal planning, and around the UK I also use Neptune Plus which is an expensive but fantastic tidal passage planning program. Very useful for a really complex tidal planning job like crossing the English Channel.

There is an app for smart phones that is quite useful in the Faroe Islands called rák Be sure to include the accent or you will not find it. It is not in English, but with a little playing, it is simple to use and provides hourly tidal flows in the islands. I used it this Summer and it was quite useful (much better than a hardcopy book that is often recommended but very difficult to use because based on slack water abeam the Southern island).

[TeddyDiver]

Originally Posted by Dockhead

I know it's counterintuitive, but sometimes the strongest tidal streams are associated with small tide ranges.


Poole Harbour is one example.


Faroe Islands another -- streams up to 12 knots, and the range is less than a meter.


We do know from the pilot books that tidal streams go up to 4 or 5 knots around the coast. The currents -- primarily the Irminger Current which runs clockwise around the island -- are mostly about 0.5 knots.

Faroes are in a different location between the Atlantic and the North Sea and GB restrained with shallow waters in addition to the location between them. So are Danish straits in a similar location.
Iceland, nothing but deepish sea around.
BR Teddy

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by TeddyDiver

Faroes are in a different location between the Atlantic and the North Sea and GB restrained with shallow waters in addition to the location between them. So are Danish straits in a similar location.
Iceland, nothing but deepish sea around.
BR Teddy

Could be, but this is what the pilot book says:


"In general the tidal stream reaches 1-3 knots but off headlands . . . it can reach local speeds of 5 - 7 knots at springs . . . "



We've experienced it, so I know it's true.


Don't ask me to explain why or how -- it's certainly beyond my understanding.

[Dockhead]

Originally Posted by Corsair 2

There is an app for smart phones that is quite useful in the Faroe Islands called rák Be sure to include the accent or you will not find it. It is not in English, but with a little playing, it is simple to use and provides hourly tidal flows in the islands. I used it this Summer and it was quite useful (much better than a hardcopy book that is often recommended but very difficult to use because based on slack water abeam the Southern island).

We found that through the Cruising Association pilot book, and used it to very good effect!! I wish there were something like that for Iceland.



Prior to that, we were using the old Book of Horrors [a very old but the most recent Faroes tidal atlas, with the huge red fans showing the tidal races] which is based not on the timing of HW somewhere, but on the moon meridian passage time. First time I've ever dealt with that in a lifetime of sailing. Fortunately we have a skilled celestial navigator on board.