Questions on neap and spring tides. Is anyone able to help?

[fif.ed]

I’m close undertaking my first ever passage!! ⛵️ and studying day skipper theory online.

I’m confused about tide phases.
Are we always in a spring or neap tide phase? And it alternates between one and the other?

Or do spring tides only occur for one day when there is a new moon or no moon. And then neap tides occur for one day when it is half way through the cycle?

If so, what phase of tide are the rest of the days in the cycle? 🤪

Thanks

[Wotname]

Welcome aboard CF, fif.ed.

Here is a god explanation that should answer your questions https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/springtide.html

Or for some more detail, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide#R...ings_and_neaps

[Suijin]

The easiest way to think of it from a practical perspective is as a sine wave form, with spring tides being the extremes and neap tides being the moderate middle. There are two of each during each lunar month, whi h is approximately 29.5 days. It's why the tide cycle advances a few minutes per cycle every day.

[cal40john]

A spring tide is the one with the greatest range that occurs twice a month. In the PNW with mixed tides, that would be only one of the two sets of tides on that day, the one with the greatest range. Neap is smallest range.

I'm not aware of a special name for the tide sets in between neap and spring.

https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/springtide.html

https://sciencing.com/list-7653299-f...pes-tides.html
(I see I was beaten to the punch.)

[fif.ed]

Originally Posted by Suijin

The easiest way to think of it from a practical perspective is as a sine wave form, with spring tides being the extremes and neap tides being the moderate middle. There are two of each during each lunar month, whi h is approximately 29.5 days. It's why the tide cycle advances a few minutes per cycle every day.

Ok so the days in between are just called ‘normal tides’?

The schedule in the picture is not accurate? It doesn’t alternate between spring and neap tides?

[fif.ed]

Originally Posted by Wotname

Welcome aboard CF, fif.ed.

Here is a god explanation that should answer your questions https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/springtide.html

Or for some more detail, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tide#R...ings_and_neaps

Thanks. Does everyone experience neap and spring tides at the same time all over the earth?

Or it varies what day, by different location?

[fif.ed]

Originally Posted by cal40john

I'm not aware of a special name for the tide sets in between neap and spring.
(I see I was beaten to the punch.)

Thanks so much! Understand a little more. So we are not continually in a neap or spring phase. And even during a neap or a spring day, the tide can vary?

[Hanksy]

For day skipper they use springs, neaps, and in between.
So assuming spring high tide is 3.0m on 1st Jan and neap high tide is 1.0 on 7th Jan if you are halfway between you can split the difference. 2.0m high tide between springs and neaps.
1 Jan - Spring
2 Jan - near springs so use spring value
3 Jan - near springs
4 Jan - in between
5 Jan - near neaps etc

For yachtmaster theory you need to be more accurate but for day skipper the above is fine.

[fif.ed]

Originally Posted by Hanksy

For day skipper they use springs, neaps, and in between.
So assuming spring high tide is 3.0m on 1st Jan and neap high tide is 1.0 on 7th Jan if you are halfway between you can split the difference. 2.0m high tide between springs and neaps.
1 Jan - Spring
2 Jan - near springs so use spring value
3 Jan - near springs
4 Jan - in between
5 Jan - near neaps etc

For yachtmaster theory you need to be more accurate but for day skipper the above is fine.

Thank you so much! Are the days in between just called ‘tide’?

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by fif.ed

Thanks so much! Understand a little more. So we are not continually in a neap or spring phase. And even during a neap or a spring day, the tide can vary?

If you look at the link below you'll see that in the PNW we have two tide sets a day, one greater than the other. Scroll down to the 9 day image it says "next spring tide Aug 14th, 11.4 feet." at the top of the image. You can see that there are two sets of unequal tides that day, only one of which is the spring tide.

https://www.tide-forecast.com/locati...n/tides/latest

Also look at the second link I posted in #4 about the 4 different types of tides.

[Hanksy]

Originally Posted by fif.ed

Thank you so much! Are the days in between just called ‘tide’?

Yes as far as I know.

[Hanksy]

What is the destination of the passage?

[LittleWing77]

It's all tide. Just the Springs and Neaps are notable, so given special names.

Good luck with your passage planning! My RYA Training was the best thing I ever did.

Warmly,
LittleWing

[LittleWing77]

Oh, and remember on that first official sail on passage?

When deciding wind versus tide as the pertinent consideration when coastal- or day- cruising in a boat that generally averages 5kts - the prevailing force will be tide.

Fair winds,
LittleWing

[AJ_n_Audrey]

Related question: I live in the Wilmington, NC area where sea level rise has had an outsize effect. We have seen more than six inches of sea level rise in the last 15 years, as much as eight, depending on how you measure, and we get three times as many yearly flooding events as before 2000.

So, the question is, do tide tables reflect the new normal? Are they updated every so many years to take into account the real high tide levels?