Hourly tidal streams, English Channel East

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TIDAL STREAMS SELSEY BILL TO BEACHY HEAD

Tidal streams – The times at which the streams begin to run change slowly, and fairly regularly, between Selsey bill and Royal Sovereign shoals, but very quickly between the shoals and Dungeness. An effect of this rapid change, which is of some importance to navigation, is that a ship of moderate speed bound up channel, and passing Selsey Bill or even St. Catherine’s point, at the beginning of the east-going stream, will have continuous east-going stream to, and past, the Downs. A ship of similar speed leaving the Downs at the beginning of the west-going stream will, however, have west-going stream for only about 4 hours, and a ship passing Dungeness at the beginning of the west-going stream will have west-going stream for only about 2 hours. These circumstances do not occur in mid-Channel or off the northern coast of France, for, whereas the times at which the stream begin change about 4 hours between Royal Sovereign shoals and Dungeness, a distance of about 24 miles, the corresponding change occurs in about 50 miles in mid-channel, and in about 75 miles off the French coast.

The east-going stream sets, from off the middle parts of the bays formed in the coast between Selsey bill and Beachy head, and between Beachy head and Dungeness, more or less north-eastward towards the land; the west-going stream, on the other hand, sets more or less south-westward, clear of the land. The on-shore set during the east-going stream is probably of little importance to ships bound up-Channel, but may have a considerable effect on those bound westward, especially as they will usually be proceeding against it.

At the position about 2 miles southward of the southern end of Outer Owers shoal, the east-going stream, spring rate 2.9 knots, begins +0540 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 2.5 knots, begins -0050 Dover.

At a position about 2 miles 174° from Beachy head lighthouse, the east-going stream, spring rate 2.6 knots, neap rate 1.5 knots, mean direction 080°, begins -0520 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 2 knots, neap rate 1.1 knots, mean direction 265°, begins +0015 Dover (Lat. 51° 07’ N., Long. 1° 20’ E.).

Northward of the line Selsey bill to Beachy head the streams are much weaker than off the points. At a position about 4½ miles 167° from Worthing pier head the stream is more or less rotatory in an anti-clockwise direction. The east-going stream begins, in a south-easterly direction, +0550 Dover and changes to a direction about 055° by -0500 Dover; this direction is maintained till -0200 Dover, after which the anti-clockwise change continues and the stream ends in a northerly direction. The west-going stream begins, in a north-westerly direction, -0110 Dover and changes direction to about 270° by H.W. Dover; the anti-clockwise change continues slowly and steadily till +0400 Dover, when direction is about 220°, and then quickly till the stream ends in a southerly direction. The streams attain their greatest rates, 1.6 knots at springs, 0.9 knot at neaps in both directions, - 0400 Dover in a direction 052°, and +0200 Dover in a direction 243°.

Caution. – At a position about 4½ miles 167° from Worthing pier head the east-going stream, when strongest, runs in a direction towards Brighton. An inset may be experienced when crossing the bay between Selsey bill and Beach head, during the east-going stream.

TIDAL STREAMS BEACH HEAD TO DUNGENESS

Tidal Streams – At a position about 2 miles 174° from Beachy Head lighthouse, the east-going stream, spring rate 2.6 knots, begins -0520 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 2 knots, begins +0015 Dover).

Off Royal Sovereign shoals, at a position about 8½ miles 100° from Beach Head lighthouse, the east-going stream, spring rate 2.6 knots, neap rate 1.5 knots, mean direction 068°, begins -0520 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 1.8 knots, neap rate one knot, mean direction 248°, begins +0005 Dover.

Eastward of Royal Sovereign shoals the streams decrease in strength; at a position, about 10½ miles 232° from Dungeness high lighthouse, the east-going stream, spring rate one knot neap rate 0.5 knot mean direction 045° begins -0340 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 1.1 knots, neap rate 0.6 knot, mean direction 225°, begins +0250 Dover. The east-going stream sets in a direction westward of Dungeness.

The streams again become stronger as Dungeness is approached; at a position about 2.4 miles 140° from the high lighthouse, the east-going stream, spring rate 1.9 knots, neap rate 1.1 knots, direction 031°, begins -0200 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 2.1 knots, neap rate 1.3 knots, direction 211°, begins +0430 Dover.

The east-going stream begins 0320 later, the west-going stream begins 0425 later, off Dungeness than off Royal Sovereign shoals.

TIDAL STREAMS DUNGENESS TO SOUTH FORELAND

Tidal Streams – At a position about 2.4 miles 140° from Dungeness high lighthouse, the east-going stream, spring rate 1.9 knots, begins -0200 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 2.1 knots, begins +0430 Dover.

At a position 5 miles 081° from Dungeness high lighthouse, the east-going stream, mean direction 040°, begins -0205 Dover; the west-going stream, mean direction 221°, begins +0400 Dover. Spring rate in both directions 1.8 knots, neap rate one knot.

At a position 3.7 miles 197° from the head of Folkestone breakwater, the east-going stream, spring rate 1.3 knots neap rate 0.7 knot, mean direction 053°, begins -0200 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 1.1 knots neap rate 0.6 knot, mean direction 232°, begins +0400 Dover.

At a position 4.5 miles 183° from South Foreland lighthouse, the east-going stream, spring rate 2.4 knots neap rate 1.4 knots, mean direction 053°, begins -0135 Dover; the west-going stream, spring rate 2.3 knots neap rate 1.3 knots, mean direction 232°, begins +0440 Dover.

Adapted from Admiralty sailing Directions 1947