One of the first things I discuss with my students on the Potomac River is the fact that the body of water runs towards the ocean, except twice a day. The tides that affect the Atlantic Ocean affect the Chesapeake Bay, which in turn connects to the Potomac River which results in a twice daily reversal of the waters as the river floods. It’s all based on the gravitational pull of the Moon and the Sun and can be predicted ahead for thousands of years, all things being equal. Obviously there will be variations on the depths achieved due to storms, high or low rainfall for the season etc.
I use the Tides App on my phone to get my information, but for the younger students that I teach at Camp, we use an old school paper chart that I download from the NOAA website. You can see the daily highs and lows, in Feet and Centimeters above the Datum (Mean Lower Low Water, MLLW). The chart also shows you the Moon’s position beneath the Date and Day of the month.
As the tide comes in, the water reverses course and flows up-river. The speed of which can also be found on NOAA’s website. Having this information is handy in planning your trip for the day. It’s excruciating to try and sail up current and into the wind. A little preparation will tell you which is the best direction to begin your journey so that you can maximize the current to your advantage, rather than fight it in two directions.
When you draw several feet of water and sail in a relatively shallow area, it’s imperative to know your tidal shift. Stay informed fellow boaters
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