strategy in passages with strong currents

[sailingdog]

Fighting the current is generally a losing proposition in a sailboat, which has a relatively low top-end speed to begin with. If the current is running at 5 knots against you, and you can only make 6 knots... the chances that you get into trouble are a lot higher than if you're trying to make the same passage at slack tide. A lot of the boats that make those passages against the current have a lot more horsepower and much higher top-end speeds... making a passage into a 5 knot current is much simpler in a boat that can do 20-30 knots as a top-end speed and has 10-30 times the horsepower you do.

[Plumper]

I prefer to go through the tide gates against the tide. With a little current from ahead you get maximum steerage with minimum speed over the ground. It makes everything happen slowly. The contrary, running through with the tide, makes you want to ease off on the throttles and gives you the feeling of way less control. That is why the vessels running downstream have the right of way over those going upstream.

Regarding Dodd narrows, we (in a 42' trawler) went through yesterday, with the 4 knot ebb, and there were no whirlies on the south side. It was good. That is my max transit speed through Dodds. If you wait until slack you have to deal with the tugs and their tows. They won't normally go through with much current (especially if they are going with it).

[Boasun]

Originally Posted by erps

We got to Dodds a little early one time (current against us in Dodds) so throught, what the heck, lets give False Narrows a try. We made it without scratching our fresh bottom paint but the 1st mate says we'll never do that one again. I never saw so much kelp and rocks.

You were LUCKY!
Knew one Navy Chief who tried to take his 120' vessel through False Narrows. It did not work. He tore up the bottom of his vessel.

They didn't name that passage, False Narrows without a reason.

[sailingdog]

I'm guessing that a 120' boat draws a bit more water than a 42' trawler...

Originally Posted by Boasun

You were LUCKY!
Knew one Navy Chief who tried to take his 120' vessel through False Narrows. It did not work. He tore up the bottom of his vessel.

They didn't name that passage, False Narrows without a reason.

[Plumper]

It wasn't me (in the 42' trawler) that went through False narrows it was Erps in his 41' Fraser.
I have heard of folks sailing through False Narrows during the Van-isle 360 in a multihull but I think anything that draws more than a foot or two is a huge risk.

[FrankLanger]

A sailor at our marina, who said he was a former tug boat operator, suggested that I take our sailboat (30 foot, 6 foot draft) through False Narrows when the slack at Dodds Narrows didn't correspond to our preferred travel time. He said there is a path one can take, lined up with the range markers, that is safe.

Fortunately, I checked our charts and decided "no way" would I risk that. I couldn't believe that he had suggested that I try, when I saw the actual depth (or lack thereof).

While local knowledge is sometimes helpful, I've learned to check everything myself first.

Frank.

[Faster]

At high tide I think that you could use False narrows if you can stay on the range markers and out of the mud.... technically......

Haven't had the nerve to try it yet with our 6' draft.

[Stillraining]

cracking as the tide leaves you high and dry has never really appeal to me...It must be an acquired taste.

[CharlieCobra]

Deception is another fun place at the wrong time. Nothing like doing 360's between 600' cliffs under a bridge.

[bwindrope]

Having gone through most every pass in the area many times by sailboat and kayak I have to say they are one of my favorite things about our area. So dynamic, and powerful. Then again, I'm one of those people who goes to South Beach here on San Juan Island during our biggest storms just to experience the beauty. My family loves to anchor near a powerful pass and watch it at peak flow.

All the bases have been covered here, so nothing substantive to add. Just a note to second the recent comment about Deception Pass being a whopper. Along with all the others, it is especially bad when the current is against the wind. Unlike most, it directly faces the Strait of Juan de Fuca and the full fury of Western winds. Let me say, under no circumstances do you want to be exiting Deception Pass with an ebb, while there is more than 25 knots of wind from the West. Especially when there is more than 40 knots...gulp, been there.

Favorite tides/currents book by far is Ports and Passes.