Ocean Currents on the East Coast

[carlylelk]

Is there a source for ocean current locations/speed along the east coast?

The gulf stream location one can get from NOAA, but what about the local currents out of the gulf stream? We were sailing NW from Beaufort NC and were apparently caught in an eddy from the Gulf Stream that cut our speed dramatically for half a day. If I knew the extent of the eddy I might have been able to sail out of it.

Thanks,
Duane

[belizesailor]

Here ya go, color coded even...compliments of Windy (a very slick weather data visualition app).

Like most others, I think they get their current data sets from COPERNICUS:

http://marine.copernicus.eu/training...ters/currents/

There are other apps that download from Copernicus also. Like SailGRIB WR.

Around the Gulf Stream there are warm and cold eddies, which rotate in oppossite directions, catching the favorable side of eddies is a big part of Gulf Stream strategies. Also counter currents. Recent info and an accurate temp probe help a lot when crossing the Stream.

Copernicus has global coverage of offshore currents, but I dont know of any tools that do a good job of showing minor local currents close to shore.

How far off the coast were you when you hit the eddie (or maybe a counter current)? Maybe compare your position against what Windy shows to see if it might help.

[carlylelk]

Belizesailor,

Excellent! Thanks for the information. I've used Windy a lot, ,didn't know they had ocean currents.

Duane

[Suijin]

The farther north you go, the more of an issue eddies become as they peel off the stream. Newport Bermuda races have been won and lost on playing the eddies.

They do change significantly over time so check as close to your sailing date as possible.

[wsmurdoch]

Then there is NOAA.

Global RTOFS Gulf Stream Location

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by Suijin

The farther north you go, the more of an issue eddies become as they peel off the stream. Newport Bermuda races have been won and lost on playing the eddies.

They do change significantly over time so check as close to your sailing date as possible.

Yes. I havent sailed in the Bermuda races, but I have sailed Mass to Bermuda...loads of eddies once you cross the Stream!

[deblen]

nuther version


https://earth.nullschool.net/#curren....92,33.61,1106


Len

[CaptsWife]

Originally Posted by belizesailor

Here ya go, color coded even...compliments of Windy (a very slick weather data visualition app).

Like most others, I think they get their current data sets from COPERNICUS:

Copernicus - Marine environment monitoring service

There are other apps that download from Copernicus also. Like SailGRIB WR.

Around the Gulf Stream there are warm and cold eddies, which rotate in oppossite directions, catching the favorable side of eddies is a big part of Gulf Stream strategies. Also counter currents. Recent info and an accurate temp probe help a lot when crossing the Stream.

Copernicus has global coverage of offshore currents, but I dont know of any tools that do a good job of showing minor local currents close to shore.

How far off the coast were you when you hit the eddie (or maybe a counter current)? Maybe compare your position against what Windy shows to see if it might help.

Attachment 173148

Found it. I didn't know Windy had currents, either. So cool! Thanks!!!

[belizesailor]

Originally Posted by CaptsWife

Found it. I didn't know Windy had currents, either. So cool! Thanks!!!

Windy, in the Android app at least, has loads of cool features! Some my favorites are: slider bar to set altitude for wind data, comparative forecasts across several models, many selectable forecast parameters, ...

Two features I wish it had, but dont think it does, are access to historic data and the ability to download forecast data for offline access.

[cynthia-m]

I just posted a query about currents in the Intracoastal, then found this one. Thank you, Belizesailor, we have been using Windy app for winds, we too now know it has a great feature for water currents.