Re: [Paddlewise] "Navigating Bremerton..."

From: ralph diaz <rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com>
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 05:42:07 -0700
TomW wrote:
> 
> Hi,
> 
>         Well?  I did it! [I think/hope<g>]  That area around the bridge I
> mentioned?  Near as I can tell, even at most forceful times [ for April it
> looks like odd numbered weeks] current gets no stiffer than 3.7 x 0.7=2.59
> kts...

I don't know the area you are speaking about but don't be lulled into
any false sense of security from what you read about currents speed in a
table.  Those tables are really averages and samplings and so can be way
off.  Lots of such data is seriously out-of-date. PLUS, winds can wreak
havoc with any such predictions.  With winds you can get more effective
current or worse yet, wind in opposition to current for very steep
seas.  Also wind blowing in from the ocean, depending on where you are,
can bring in more water from the sea (again I don't know your location)
meaning that currents are faster and tides higher under such
circumstances.  So, don't be surprised to find that currents are twice
as strong on any given day or the turn of currents is not on the
schedule of predictions shown in the tables.

Lastly, you mention "bridge." Often water under bridges stack up since
generally bridges are built from points of land sticking out into
whatever body of water they cross (to lesson the distance the bridge has
to span).  Water moving in one direction or another gets squeezed into
those areas and can be quite forceful depending on the size of the area
that the water is coming from such as a large bay.  So be aware of that
too.

I am not saying any of this is necessarily dangerous but it pays to know
such things and to be prepared for major differences in how water may
behave regardless of what tables say and from what you may casually
observe.

ralph diaz
-- 
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Ralph Diaz . . . Folding Kayaker newsletter
PO Box 0754, New York, NY 10024
Tel: 212-724-5069; E-mail: rdiaz_at_ix.netcom.com
"Where's your sea kayak?"----"It's in the bag."
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Received on Mon Apr 17 2000 - 02:43:15 PDT

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