[Paddlewise] Tides, Currents, Compasses, etc.

I just started my paddleing career this past February, and want to spend
some time this winter getting some "book sense" skills that I'm clueless
about.

Can anyone recommend a good resource for learning about tides, currents,
navigating with a compass, etc etc?

In my neck of the woods, currents, tidal changes,  and other similar
situations are so minor that they might as well not exist.  Biggest issue
here is how hard is the wind blowing, thus how difficult is the "chop" for a
rookie paddler.   BUT, I don't plan on sticking so close to home for long,
and would feel more comfortable if I had those other skills, or at least was
aware of what I don't know and can't handle.

Any recommendations or advice is welcome.  The Coast Guard Auxillary in this
area only teaches basic  Boater Safety Courses, which I took in March, but
it didn't help much.  I need stuff like --  how do I plot a course to XXX
channel and how hard will it be to cross it with an XXX tide and XXX winds
blowing so hard I got white caps in my coffee?  

Any help is appreciated.

Rick (the one from Virginia)

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