RYA Yachtmaster Tidal Streams & Secondary Ports 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A vessel is heading 060°T at 6 knots through water. The tidal stream is 090°T at 2 knots. Using a vector triangle, the course and speed over ground is approximately:
- 075°T at 6.3 knots (stream adds an easterly component, shifting track right and increasing speed) (Correct answer)
- 060°T at 8 knots
- 090°T at 6 knots
- 050°T at 5 knots
Correct answer: 075°T at 6.3 knots (stream adds an easterly component, shifting track right and increasing speed)
The stream (090°T) pushes the vessel east while it heads northeast. The resultant course is to the right of 060°T and the speed increases. Vector addition gives approximately 075°T at 6.3 knots.
Question 2: An eddy forms on the lee side of a headland during a strong tidal stream. A passage plan should:
- Consider using the counter-current in the eddy for upwind or uptide passages, hugging the inshore side (Correct answer)
- Avoid all eddies as they cause unpredictable conditions
- Only use eddies in winds below Force 4
- Disregard eddies as they are too small to matter
Correct answer: Consider using the counter-current in the eddy for upwind or uptide passages, hugging the inshore side
Experienced passage planning uses inshore counter-currents (eddies behind headlands) to gain a favourable stream when the main stream is adverse — a valuable offshore technique.
Question 3: The rule of thumb 'tide over a shoal' states:
- A vessel should have enough tidal height to pass safely over a charted shoal with the required clearance at the worst state of tide expected (Correct answer)
- Tides always increase depth in shallow water
- The shoal disappears at high water
- Tidal streams increase in strength over shoals
Correct answer: A vessel should have enough tidal height to pass safely over a charted shoal with the required clearance at the worst state of tide expected
Passing over shoals requires calculating the minimum depth of water at the time of passage: charted depth + minimum height of tide must exceed draft plus required clearance.
Question 4: How does an anomalous (non-sinusoidal) tidal curve at some UK ports (e.g., Southampton) affect Admiralty method calculations?
- Ports like Southampton have double high waters — the standard tidal curve does not apply and the port-specific curve must be used (Correct answer)
- All UK ports have sinusoidal tides
- Anomalous ports use Rule of Twelfths only
- Southampton has no tidal predictions in the Admiralty tables
Correct answer: Ports like Southampton have double high waters — the standard tidal curve does not apply and the port-specific curve must be used
Southampton and the Solent have double high waters (caused by tidal resonance in the English Channel). The standard Admiralty curve does not apply — the port-specific graphical prediction must be used.
Question 5: A skipper needs to anchor overnight. They calculate the anchor needs to be deployed when tide height = 3.2 m (HW). The range is 4.0 m. By low water, the tide will fall 4.0 m. What depth of water will remain at the anchor at LW if charted depth is 2.5 m?
- 1.7 m — charted depth + LW height = 2.5 + LW height; LW height = 3.2 − 4.0 = −0.8 m, but CD is zero minimum → actual depth = 2.5 − (4.0 − 3.2) = 2.5 − 0.8 = 1.7 m (Correct answer)
- 3.2 m
- 4.0 m
- 2.5 m
Correct answer: 1.7 m — charted depth + LW height = 2.5 + LW height; LW height = 3.2 − 4.0 = −0.8 m, but CD is zero minimum → actual depth = 2.5 − (4.0 − 3.2) = 2.5 − 0.8 = 1.7 m
At LW, the tide height = HW height − range = 3.2 − 4.0 = −0.8 m (below CD). Depth at LW = charted depth + LW height = 2.5 + (−0.8) = 1.7 m. The area dries by 0.8 m below CD.
Question 6: A tidal diamond on a chart is labelled 'D'. Where does a skipper look up the tidal stream data for diamond D?
- In the table printed on the chart associated with diamond D — referenced to HW at a named standard port (Correct answer)
- In the tide tables almanac
- In the ship's GPS plotter
- In the pilot book for that area
Correct answer: In the table printed on the chart associated with diamond D — referenced to HW at a named standard port
Each lettered tidal diamond on an Admiralty chart has a corresponding table printed on the chart itself, giving tidal stream direction and rate (springs and neaps) for each hour relative to HW at the named standard port.
RYA Yachtmaster Tidal Streams & Secondary Ports 2
A vessel is heading 060°T at 6 knots through water.
The tidal stream is 090°T at 2 knots.
Using a vector triangle, the course and speed over ground is approximately: