Flag Name &

List A Phonetic
CKLIST Pronunciation Meaning
SAFETY BRIEFING CHE of a cruise, I cover the
during the first few days Morse and ph
ed, may seem a lot, but
sive list of things to be cover onetics
This is a fairly comprehen
following:

₋
Initia lly Alfa
Outline of passage plan I have a diver
up points down;
Lifejacket fitting and hook keep well clear
er works AL-fah at slow speed.
Gas drills and how cook
One hand for yours elf,
Flares, location and how
one hand for the boat – always.
and when to use
●      A - LA RM  
How to use the heads
ing procedures
Engine starting and stopp
to use the radio
Basic instructions on how
and when and how to use them
Fire extinguish ers
y
inlet, cockp it drains, galle

₋
Priority 2 cover ed durin
g the first day or as requi
red:
Only ones to be left on perm
anently at sea are engine Bravo
d off unless being used. I am taking in, Form F
All seaco cks to be turne the Solen t, or simil ar
discharging, or
pump outlet. in unrestricted water s. In
outlet and electr ic bilge once clear of harbour and BRAH-voh carrying danger
horizon every ten minu tes ous cargo.
Lookout - 360º sweep of d.
ested wate rs, a const ant watch is to be maintaine equip ment and to prevent it.
on any
●  ●  ●  BAR- NEY-DID-
cong
e of the need to notice chafe

Forms for helping work

All on watch to be awar
Be awar e of the boom (s). ward side.
on the wind IT
s move around the boat
When under sail, alway
All to know :

₋₋
alert.
a. How to send a distre ss
et.
Charlie "Yes" or "affirm
b. How to use the fire blank horseshoe buoys, EPIRB) ative".
equipment (e.g. danbuoy,
c. How to operate safety
d. Location of first aid kit. leeway, weath er signs, CHAR-lee
check , cours e steer ed, distan ce run,
tenan ce. Hourly
e. Navigational log main state, GPS position.

out Secondary Port tidal

bilge , battery
●  
barometric tende ncy,
f. Sail controls
g. Action on man overb
oard
● CAR -MEN -CART-IT
)
g seasick when just boiling a kettle
h. Action on someone feelin conditions (this means even
be worn when cooking at sea in rough
i. Oilsk ins to

₋
Delta
or earlier as required: I am maneuver
Priority 3 cover ed later sail trim ing with diffic
handling and windlass, ulty;
a. Use of winches, sheet DELL-tah keep clear.
liferaft.

height calculations
b. How to deplo y
overb oard recov ery gear.
c. How to deploy man
d. How to operate emer
e. How to drop and weig
gency fuel cut offs.
h anchor. ●  ● DON’T -DO-IT
nts of grab bag Echo
f. Location and conte
g. Bilge pump(s) may well be the
feels unco mfortable; this
h. Policy on intern al lights
i. Hook on at night, when
at night.
going forward, when secon
t the crew .
d reef goes in, or anyone
switch/fus e pane l.
ECK-oh
I am altering my
course to starbo
ard.
 
●  ET (ATE)
table abou iar with the
skipper feeling unco mfor off the electr ics? Be famil
e is the main switch to turn
j. Battery policy, wher ol procedures in the even t of:
ge contr
k. All to understand dama /heater fires
Electrical, engine or stove
Foxtrot

●  ●₋●
Gas alarm going off
Collision drills
I am disabled;
communicate wi
l. Lifeboat or helicopter
drills. th me.

As described by Sticky Stapylton in

being towed
FOKS-trot
m. Action on towing or
emba rking from to dinghy
n. Emb arking/dis

ic. FIT-FO R- MA
Skipper to know: aker, or is an anaphylact RK-ET
a medical cond ition, pacem
If anyone has allergies,

Practical Boat Owner, March 2014

speci al dietary needs
If anyone has any

₋₋
If anyone cannot swim Golf
If anyone is colour blind
gh: I require a pilot.
For newcomers I talk throu GOLF
Seasickness
Rough weather
if unsure.
Terminology. Always ask
The heads. If you have
a problem, ask me to help
out.
●    GAR-AGE-IT
Hotel
hoh-TELL
I have a pilot on
board. ●●●●    HIP-HIP-HIP-
HIP
About the author
Sticky Stapylton has a
Yachtmaster Ocean
Subject Page
ticket, runs Arrow Yacht
Enterprises and is an RYA
Yachtmaster Instructor.
Secondary Port tidal prediction form 2
During his long career he has sailed most
seas and oceans of the world.
n For more details you can email Sticky
direct at instructor@[Link] or via
his website, [Link]

Seamanship Calculating tidal heights Seamanship Calculating tidal heights

9th September

Tidal height Calculating secondary ports

1320 5.0m 0.3m
We know from the almanac table that when
5 To find the differences of the LW height at
Colville

Standard
–61 +0.5 +0.2

2 Extract from the tide tables the daily detail

which will give you the high and low water
height is marked on the lower axis (0.9m) and
the HW height on the upper axis (5.5m) and the
HW is 1300 the difference at Jackson Bay is -65
minutes and when HW is 1900 the difference at
Jackson Bay 1219 5.45m 0.5m Jackson Bay we should follow the same
drill. Looking at the almanac table we can see
heights bracketing your time of entry and the black line is drawn in to join these two heights. Jackson Bay is -5 minutes, so we join up the -5 that the difference is +0.2m for whatever the

ports
time of high water. minutes to the 1900 and then draw a line LW height at Colville. We therefore have a
Note that days where there will be a spring Next find the time of your planned arrival The standard port table and graph can be used to work out the required tidal data parallel to this to cut through 1320 (the time of revised LW height of 0.5m at Jackson Bay.

calculation
tide are marked in red: this is where the range
4 (2000), take a line (shown in red) from this HW at Colville). Reading off the top line, we see We now have sufficient information to fill in the

S
of tide for the day (HW height minus LW height) time up to the red curved line on the graph, econdary ports do not have their own that the difference is -61 minutes to give the tidal graph for Jackson Bay for the afternoon of
Using the RYA theory course is greater. The days where the range of tide is then across to the line of tide for the day and tide tables or graphs, but the rise and time of HW at Jackson Bay. We enter this into 9 September. Remember, we wish to anchor to
less are marked in blue: these are neap tides. then up (or down) to read off the rise of tide at fall of tide is similar to the standard the table to give us a HW time of approximately wait for the fair tide in the least depth of water
material, here is the drill for An arrow draws your attention to the box in the that time – in this case a smidgeon over 3.5m. port to which the secondary is related, so 1219 BST. so that we do not ground at LW, and just as
working out the rise of tide for top right corner which explains the markings for So we will have more than enough water to the standard port table and graph can be Colville importantly to be out of the wind. Our draught
Sticky Stapylton explains how to work out tidal entering a harbour with a bar spring and neap tides. cross the shallow at that time. used to work out the tidal data you need.
There are many ways of working out the
is 2m: we allow for 1m clearance under the keel
and we arrive at 1440 BST. Our plan is to weigh
or a shallow at its entrance Jackson Bay

heights for standard and secondary ports Just in case we make better time than heights and times of tides for secondary ports: anchor around 1900 BST to fight a weak tide
9th September

Below is the tidal graph for the standard easy because the separation between the two 5 expected, we can work out the earliest
3 port Victoria. graph lines is not great. Note also that the
making a linear comparison, using a graph or Colville 1320 5.0m 0.3m
4 We enter this difference into our form and against us for an hour or so. After that we will
time we can enter Bramhope Creek working spreadsheet, by interpolation, formulaic or with end up with a revised HW height at then have a good five hours of favourable tide

S
–61
Note there are two graphs: the red curve heights of tide, HW at the top and LW at the on the parameters already discussed. The a programme on a scientific calculator. I believe Jackson Bay 1219 Jackson Bay of 5.45m. to help us on our passage south.
tandard ports are those where associated with nature, coast orientation, should be used for spring tides and the dotted bottom, are measured from Chart Datum. least rise of tide we need is 2.3m. Find this in having a system which does not rely on
the tides have been checked and continental shelf margin, pressure of air line in blue for Neaps. I work on the principle Mark up the time of HW in the relevant block figure on one of the horizontal axes, take a battery power, which is simple, does not need a
records made over many years. and the size of the body of water. that two days either side of Springs or Neaps at the base of the diagram and work back line (green) to the line of tide for the day, then proforma (though having one to hand makes
Look at Admiralty tide tables Atmospheric pressure affects the height of I use the graph line relevant to the range, towards the time you plan to arrive, entering across to the spring line curve (red) and drop life easier) and which only requires a piece of
produced by the Hydrographic tide (eg high atmospheric pressure pushes whereas two days either side of the date which the time for each hour. I have converted the a line down to the time boxes. This tells us paper, your tidal data from the almanac, a ruler 4.65m

Office (UKHO) and you’ll see a water level down, and a low pressure is halfway between the two, I interpolate times to BST (British Summer Time). that about 1900 we should have enough and a pencil. I call it the two-fingered method.
great many of the standard ports in the system will pull it up) and this can’t be between Neaps and Springs. Often this is not Next draw in the line of tide for the day: the LW water. We therefore have an extra buffer built At Day Skipper level you do not need to be
UK are those where the Royal Navy has readily predicted. in: firstly we have added a safety margin of that precise, but the wise navigator will always
Working with the form gives us our HW time
had a base at some time or another – it’s I have used this table to correct tidal 1m in our calculations, and we are entering an factor in a buffer which should account for
obviously very much in the navy’s interest heights based on barometric pressure: 5 2.3m 3.5m 4 5.5m hour after when we could have the minimum climatic influences, interpolation, changes
to have detailed information so the rise of tide needed. We are also entering the since the last survey and guesstimation by eye.
movement of naval vessels can be planned When pressure is: The height of tide could be: creek on a rising tide. Often a detailed mathematical calculation will
3 To find the differences on the HW height,
we must follow the same principles. I have
and executed without mishap. 963mb +0.5m produce differences of minutes of time and deliberately chosen a date and a secondary
Secondary ports are those that are of less 973mb +0.4m Depths for anchoring tenths of a metre in depth, and in these port where we will have to extrapolate. Looking
importance, for which the tides can be So, we have planned our arrival time and situations you should not need to go into detail. at the almanac table in step 3, our parameters
983mb +0.3m
worked out using standard port data.
993mb +0.2m 1 Let’s assume we plan to arrive about
2000 BST on 24 June in Bramhope
worked out that there will be enough water to At Yachtmaster level however, you should be This is the layout I use and the axes can be drawn at any scale, any size and at any angle are between Mean High Water Springs
Assuming your charts have been updated get over the shallows at Bramhope Creek. working to a higher degree of accuracy. If you (MHWS) of 4.8m and Mean High Water Neaps
from the appropriate Notices to Mariners 1003mb +0.1m Creek and plan to stay overnight. For the While planning we have received a weather arrive at a port which has shallows at the of 3.9m: the differences for MHWS is +0.4m
websites, the major concern when 1013mb No difference purposes of this exercise we’re going to forecast which indicates that a cold front will entrance and you have been delayed, your of Colville, then enter the detail using the and for MHWN it is +0.2m. 1219 1319 1419 1519 1619 1719 1819 GMT

ignore secondary port differences. You’ll Rise of tide at 1440 BST is 4.65m
entering a river, estuary or harbour is that 1023mb -0.1m come through tonight, the wind will veer workings need to be accurate and, ideally, you standard port graph, work out how much the Our HW height is 5.0m so we must LW rise of tide is 0.5m
1340

although you have a date on your chart, see from the chartlet that the least charted sharply and there will be some strong gusts should go in on a rising tide. If unsure and at tide will fall from the time of our arrival until the extrapolate, giving us a difference of +0.45m.
1033mb -0.2m depth at the entrance is 0.7m and we must
Therefore fall of tide is 4.15m
you may not know how current the latest from the NW and some heavy showers. risk of a mutiny, and the tide is falling, it may be next low water, and calculate the least depth of The differences are pretty small, but I wanted
1043mb -0.3m work out the rise of tide needed to get over
survey is, you do not know when the area Our plan won’t change: we must just ensure prudent to hold off and wait till the tide turns. water in which to anchor so we do not ground to demonstrate the need for extrapolation. It
was last dredged, and you will only be able Occasionally a combination of wind, this shallow. that we tuck ourselves into the NW corner of This is the sign of a sensible skipper, even at LW. Sounds a bit of a mouthful, but with a should now be clear why I have extended my
to make a rough guess as to how much pressure, tide and the layout of the land To simplify my calculations, I draw a Bramhope Creek to gain as much shelter in the though the chance of a pint before closing sequence of events spelling out each step two fingers backwards! This shows the tidal graph for Jackson Bay with the amended time of HW and HW and LW heights
high or low pressure weather systems will can cause surges which may result in diagram: my yacht draws 2m, the pressure is lee of the land as possible, and we need to work time in the pub is lost. of the drill, you should not lose track of your
affect your height of tide. rises or falls of sea levels by a metre or about 1011mb and the weather forecast is for out the least depth in which to anchor so that objective. The important principle is to keep
The essential principle is that you must more and a change in timings of up to an light winds from the SW. I am therefore going 0.9m 3 we do not touch at LW. This is quite easy to The passage your calculations tidy and readable, and the
add a buffer in the way of time and of hour – which is why it’s important to be to factor in a buffer of 1m to be safe. The
charted depth is 0.7m, so to achieve a depth
calculate, you just need to go through the steps. Let’s assume we are on passage from the west form I have included here helps you to do this. Is it really necessary?
height in order to be safe: I also always try on the safe side and factor a buffer into We will work on the same figures we used side of the Southern Peninsula and plan to
to avoid entering a port on a falling tide. your calculations. at the entrance I need a rise of tide of 2.3m. for our entry to the creek, draught of 2m and anchor in Jackson Bay to wait for a favourable The day for this
High
Many will argue that it’s unnecessary to
There are many electronic programmes clearance of 1m (Step 1) and the tidal data for tide. We wish to tuck ourselves well into the lee
1 exercise is 9 This page in the almanac gives the differences
Water
go through all this calculating when the
of Jackson Bay HW time on Colville information can be summoned up on a mobile
that will give you an idea of the rise of 3.5m 5.5m HW on 24 June and the next LW on the 25th. of the high ground to avoid the swell and gusts September and we
tide, but be aware there are going to be which funnel down the valley into the bay. plan to arrive at these differences. Our time of HW lies between phone, a laptop or chart plotter. But what
Now Tide
differences in the answers you achieve. Working on the basis that if our draught is Jackson Bay in the 1300 and 1900 and the differences are
Sea level when you arrive Fall Present happens when the skipper drops his mobile
I looked at eight programmes to make a 2m and we plan on a clearance of 1m under the early afternoon; we respectively -0105 (which is one hour and five
Depth
phone in the harbour waters, as I witnessed in
High
standard port calculation for Avonmouth, Height of tide on arrival 3.5m Water keel at low water, we will need to work out the wish to take the minutes, not one hour and forty-five minutes) Tide fall 4.15m Malta last year? Or if the electric power fails, as
for example. There was a maximum
less LW height 0.8m
differences of Jackson Bay to its standard port making tide to head eastward from about 1900 and -0005 minutes. So choosing suitable Low it did during a cross-Channel trip some years
Gives a fall of 2.7m
discrepancy of 0.4m and 13 minutes for Now Tide
(BST) onwards. We extract the details for the scales, we mark up the two fingers. Draught 2.0m
Water back after a delayed passage to Ploumanac’h?
Sea level when you arrive Fall Present
high water and 0.3m and 11 minutes for Depth standard port, Colville, and enter this data into Yes, we did touch the sill, but luckily we were
low water. Fall Tide fall 2.7m the form. Desired clearance 1.0m on a rising tide.
Tide tables are predictions – not a
2.7m Low
Note that we do not convert our time of high Your ability to carry out these calculations with
Water
guarantee – of times and heights of High
Draught 2.0m
water (HW) to summer time until we have taken a piece of paper and a pencil could well get you
Depth to anchor in = Tide fall + Draught + Clearance
Water (HW) and Low Water (LW). The Desired clearance 1.0m the time differences into account; this is out of trouble if your electrics go wrong or your
information is not precise because the because the differences are based on the
1320 5.0m 0.3m equipment is faulty. A prudent skipper will
figures can be affected by many factors 0.8m Depth to anchor in = Tide fall + Draught + Clearance
standard port times of GMT. You will see, also, Here’s a diagram to explain how always have a system in reserve.
Height of tide Draught 2m that I have marked up (in red) that we have -05 we have come to the depth in which So, arriving around 1340 GMT (1440 BST), find a
ABOUT THE AUTHOR required 3m 6 We know from our graph in Step 4 what the rise of tide is when we
7 Now add: The fall of 2.7m + the draught of 2.0m + the buffer of spring tides on this day, and that there will be a to anchor: suitable spot to anchor where the depth is at least Information online
arrive at 2000, 3.5m, but we need to have a graph which relates to 1.0m, giving a total of 5.7m. need to extrapolate: I will come to this later. Tide fall to next LW 4.15m 7.15m, and drop the hook. The tide between now
Sticky Stapylton has a Required rise of tide 2.3m You can view and download Sticky
the next LW at 0513 of 0.8m. Yes, there’s only 0.1m difference from the So before anchoring for the night at about 2000, we motor into the NW Draught 2.0m and the next LW should fall only 4.15m, leaving our
Yachtmaster Ocean ticket, CD previous day, and we still have the buffer of 1m... but let’s do this properly! corner of Bramhope Creek until our echo sounder – ideally set to show Stapylton’s Secondary Port tidal
Clearance 1m We must now use the two fingers of the Clearance needed 1.0m draught and clearance for us to float in.
runs Arrow Yacht Enterprises Charted depth 0.7m So a revised graph is needed, and from this we need to work out the fall of the depth below the waterline – reads 5.7m, and anchor. If your echo 2 HW time to work out the differences of Depth in which to anchor 7.15m
prediction form from the PBO website. Visit
and is an RYA Yachtmaster Seabed tide between the height of tide at our time of arrival of 3.5m minus LW height sounder is set to the bottom of the keel or to include a buffer below [Link]/stickyforms3. Or you can
Jackson Bay HW time on Colville. So we turn
Instructor. During his long career he has of 0.8m: this is 2.7m. The drawing above shows the graph for this. that, you will need to do a little bit more arithmetic! email Sticky direct at instructor@sail-help.
to the page in the almanac which gives us Marking up the two fingers of HW time ■ My thanks to the RYA for permission to use the theory course charts and training almanac.
sailed most seas and oceans of the world.
➜ [Link] or via his website, [Link]

94 Practical Boat Owner 571 March 2014 • [Link] Practical Boat Owner 571 March 2014 • [Link] 95 96 Practical Boat Owner 571 March 2014 • [Link] Practical Boat Owner 571 March 2014 • [Link] 97

Sticky_heights [Link] 94 14/01/2014 15:13

Sticky_heights [Link] 95 14/01/2014 15:13
Sticky_heights [Link] 96 14/01/2014 15:14
Sticky_heights [Link] 97 14/01/2014 15:14