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  • Introduction
    • 0.0.1 Warning
    • 0.1 Layout reference
      • 0.1.1 Highlight:
      • 0.1.2 Examples:
      • 0.1.3 Extra info:
      • 0.1.4 External links
    • 0.2 Copyright and permissions
  • 1 Weather
    • 1.1 Weather forecasts
      • 1.1.1 Sources of forecasts
      • 1.1.2 Understanding forecasts
    • 1.2 Wind
      • 1.2.1 Wind strength
      • 1.2.2 Effects of land on wind
      • 1.2.3 Sea and land breezes
      • 1.2.4 Anabatic and katabatic winds
      • 1.2.5 Wind, waves and tide
      • 1.2.6 Accounting for wind
    • 1.3 Other considerations
      • 1.3.1 Visibility
      • 1.3.2 Fog
      • 1.3.3 Thunderstorms
      • 1.3.4 River levels
    • 1.4 Synoptic charts
      • 1.4.1 Isobars and wind
      • 1.4.2 Low pressure
      • 1.4.3 High pressure
    • 1.5 Some meteorology*
      • 1.5.1 Air masses
      • 1.5.2 Global circulation
      • 1.5.3 Depressions
      • 1.5.4 Depressions in practice
    • 1.6 Environmental clues
      • 1.6.1 Wind direction
      • 1.6.2 Clouds
    • 1.7 Maritime forecasts
    • 1.8 Weather and trip planning
      • 1.8.1 Deciding where, and if, to go
      • 1.8.2 Checking actual conditions
  • 2 Tides
    • 2.1 What causes the tides?
      • 2.1.1 The moon
      • 2.1.2 The Sun - neaps and springs
      • 2.1.3 Meteorological effects
    • 2.2 Tide tables
      • 2.2.1 Tidal range
      • 2.2.2 Tidal factor*
    • 2.3 Tidal streams
      • 2.3.1 Tidal diamonds
      • 2.3.2 Tidal stream atlases
      • 2.3.3 Pilots and guidebooks
    • 2.4 Paddling with tidal flow: Predicting speeds of tidal streams
      • 2.4.1 Changes between neaps and springs*
      • 2.4.2 Variation of flow through the tidal cycle*
      • 2.4.3 50/90 rule*
      • 2.4.4 Rule of thirds
    • 2.5 Depth of tide
      • 2.5.1 Predicting high and low water*
      • 2.5.2 Determining heights of high and low water*
      • 2.5.3 Estimating the depth of the tide
    • 2.6 Environmental considerations
      • 2.6.1 Behavior of tidal streams
      • 2.6.2 Races and overfalls
      • 2.6.3 Signs of tidal flow
  • 3 Surf and Swell
    • 3.1 Introduction to surf and swell
      • 3.1.1 The life story of a wave
      • 3.1.2 Terminology*
    • 3.2 Wind waves
      • 3.2.1 Wind forming waves
      • 3.2.2 Fetch
      • 3.2.3 Time to drop off*
      • 3.2.4 Uncomfortable sea states
    • 3.3 Ground swell
      • 3.3.1 What is swell?
      • 3.3.2 How does swell work?*
      • 3.3.3 Swell propagation*
      • 3.3.4 Sets*
    • 3.4 Waves and topography*
      • 3.4.1 Waves in shallow water
      • 3.4.2 Refraction and focusing
      • 3.4.3 Diffraction
      • 3.4.4 Reflection
      • 3.4.5 Reefs and boomers
    • 3.5 Surf
      • 3.5.1 Waves and beaches*
      • 3.5.2 Surf height*
      • 3.5.3 Surf zone features
    • 3.6 Swell and surf forecasts
    • 3.7 Environmental considerations
      • 3.7.1 Reefs and gravel bars
      • 3.7.2 Rouge waves
      • 3.7.3 Dumping surf
    • 3.8 Wind, waves and tidal streams
      • 3.8.1 Wind and waves against tide
      • 3.8.2 Tide races / overfalls
      • 3.8.3 Wind / waves with the tide*
  • 4 Navigation
    • 4.1 Practicalities*
      • 4.1.1 On the water
      • 4.1.2 On dry land
    • 4.2 Maps and Charts
      • 4.2.1 Comparing maps and charts
      • 4.2.2 Reading charts*
      • 4.2.3 Which to use?
      • 4.2.4 Obtaining maps and charts
      • 4.2.5 Other sources of maps
    • 4.3 Coastal pilotage - handrailing
      • 4.3.1 Compass use for coastal pilotage*
    • 4.4 Distance, speed and time
      • 4.4.1 The units of the sea*
      • 4.4.2 Distance, speed and time calculations
      • 4.4.3 Dead reckoning*
    • 4.5 Navigation tricks
      • 4.5.1 Short legs
      • 4.5.2 Aiming off
      • 4.5.3 Attack points
    • 4.6 The compass and bearings
    • 4.7 Specifying position
      • 4.7.1 Grid references
      • 4.7.2 Latitude and longitude*
    • 4.8 Navigational marks*
    • 4.9 Formal navigation for short crossings
  • 5 Open water navigation
    • 5.1 General techniques for tidal and non-tidal waters
      • 5.1.1 Dead reckoning
      • 5.1.2 Transits
      • 5.1.3 Following a bearing
      • 5.1.4 Fixes*
      • 5.1.5 Distance off*
      • 5.1.6 GPS
      • 5.1.7 Responsibilities for navigating
    • 5.2 Open Water Navigation in tidal waters
      • 5.2.1 Chartwork
      • 5.2.2 Long crossings
      • 5.2.3 Choosing when to make the crossing
      • 5.2.4 Finding tidal stream data for long crossings
      • 5.2.5 Plotting tidal streams
      • 5.2.6 Finding the course to steer
      • 5.2.7 Determining estimated positions
    • 5.3 Risks and challenges of open crossings

Notes on Sea Kayak Navigation and Tidal Planning

Chapter 4 Navigation

Navigation isn’t just about finding out where you are - it’s about planning where you’re going. Decision making, both before you go out, and on the water, requires taking a lot of factors into account - for example:

  • The weather: are conditions suitable for a day on the water? Do we need to seek shelter? Is is better to start by going upwind so we can get blown back at the end of the day? Will the weather change whilst we’re on the water?

  • Type of craft: This clearly affects how far we might be able to go, and where it is sensible to go. Weather and sea conditions affect different craft in different ways - for example, an offshore wind may be more problematic for a group of SUP paddlers than a group in sea kayaks.

  • Experience: How experienced and skilled the group are

  • Leader: The experience of the group leader (if there is one)

  • Fitness: How far do we want to go? Do we have the fitness to paddle in more difficult conditions - paddling in wind and waves requires much more effort than flat water.

  • Launching and landing: Where can we get on and off easily? Does this depend on the tide

  • Places to stop: Where can we get off the water for a break or in an emergency?

  • Car parks: Where can we park near the water?

  • Aims and aspirations: What do we want to see on the water? What are we looking to achieve?

Notice that many of these factors relate to the geography of the paddle, and we’ll likely discuss them whilst looking at a map.