[Paddlewise] Constricted Bay Entrances

From: Peter Treby <ptreby_at_ozemail.com.au>
Date: Sun, 11 Nov 2001 12:09:40 +1100
Thanks for all the informative replies to this question. It seems that a
bottleneck will not have slack water coincide with high or low water. So the
only way to predict the best time to pass through the bottleneck is either
from accumulated experience, published on charts, tide stream tables,
sailing directions, or pilot, or maybe a local fisherman. If none of these
are available for the location, perhaps it's best to allow plenty of time to
hang around and wait.
We have this situation nearby at "The Narrows", the eastern entrance to
Westernport Bay. At the narrowest, the bottleneck is 600 metres or so wide.
The chart marks 5 - 6 knot streams, but unlike the western entrance, used by
shipping, there are no time predictions. I gather that the annual swimming
event crossing this section is timed for slack water. A boat is placed mid
strait. When the boat stops drifting, the starter's gun fires.
PT.


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Received on Sat Nov 10 2001 - 19:23:25 PST

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