Beware of the tides...!

Posted By: Tom T. House
Date: 3/12/07 10:44a.m.

Report: outside forum guidelines

In Response To: slip in PP (Bill "Freewind")

If you are staying on the boat, be very careful about the tides...! The Sea of Cortez has some very unique aspects, associated with the tides. Some of this "uniqueness" includes a difference of some 27 vertical feet, between maximum high and low tides, created by the shape of the Sea and the "piling", of that very large body of contained and moving water, at the top area of top at high tide; and the "vacating", of that very large and contained body of moving water at low tide. There have been more than a few people who thought they were OK and then found themselves high and dry, when they didn't know about the tidal shifts....and there have been lots who thought they were camping on dry ground or anchored securely and them found their camp underwater and/or their anchor scope was sorely insufficient. This is especially the case nearer the top of the Sea and less at the south end of the Sea. One also needs to be aware of very strong and sometimes very fast "tidal" currents that are created in "vortex" areas, such as in areas that are shallower than the surrounding areas or constricted, by the presents of Islands and Sea Mounts, that are underwater structures, not necessarily visible at the surface. In some areas I've anchored in, one could laterally surf on the wake created by our anchored boat. The other thing that one should give attention to is: Many have not anticipated "reversing tides" and their affect on the reliability of their anchor set up.... Bigger is often better, in anchors and rode and two are sometimes better than one. Just some things to be aware of...