Thinking out loud: Crossing the CR Bar

[PhoebusGroup]

Hi Salty Dogs,

Some of you may have read a recent post about my unplanned trip over the CR bar on 1 Aug. This note is about a planned trip for 6 August. I'd appreciate any comments from those with CR Bar experience to my plan and my questions.

Step 1: Tides

Relevant tides for Friday, 6 Aug 04, at the North Jetty of the CR are as follows:

High 5:32 AM 5.5
Low 11:18 AM 1.0
High 5:56 PM 6.8

First question: How accurate are these tide predictions?

On 1 Aug, the low slack at North Jetty was to be at 8:01AM
and I was at the end of the jetties returning against a strong outgoing tide.

So, initial plan for Aug 6 would be to head out early (6AM) and cross the bar around 7:30 - after high slack, but early enough in the ebb tide to be safe. Return should be at/after noon on a flood tide. The 4.5 foot swing of this tide is modest to small. So, there are no glaring problems with the bar, from a tidal viewpoint. Agree?

Step 2: Weather

Today (Tuesday) NOAA says
FRI...W WIND 10 KT... WIND WAVES 2 FT... W SWELL 7 FT

We'll recheck, of course. This is not a good report, I believe.

Question 2: What's a good heuristic for offshore wind and swell? And, wouldn't this forecast be for afternoon conditions when the winds ordinarily gain strength?

Step 3: Friday AM (assuming a GO)

* Check NOAA Weather on the radio; call spouse who can report current weather at buoy #46029 from Internet

* Monitor Channel 16 and 22 for Coast Guard bar reports

* Listen for reports from fishers on the bar and at sea

* Proceed with caution and common sense, and continue to monitor weather and CG reports.

Safety-wise (vs. fishing-wise), are there other measures that experienced Salty Dogs would recommend?

Thanks and kind regards,

PhoebusGroup
AKA David King

[Miss B Haven]

I'm not sure why you want to wait until the morning tide turns around. I'd be crossing the bar while it's still incoming at daylight or just after (5:30).
The high and low slack given in tide tables is not the same as the current. Rule of thumb is add an hour for the current to slack and turn after the hi or low tide. Idealy you can cross an hour after high tide and wait until an hour after low tide. Conditions (river runff, sea/wind conditons) will impact the timing of the tides somewhat. Of course the tables are only accurate at any one given place and you'll be traversing 10 miles of bar and river mouth but the 1 hour rule is a good one.
Check the board, there's some other dogs running Friday!

[PhoebusGroup]

Thanks, Miss B Haven,

A more aggressive, earlier start is a good idea.

And thanks for sorting out hi/lo tides vs. current.

I'll check the Board for dogs heading out and perhaps I can shadow one. The Jeanne-Marie, my boat, is relatively slow - a 26 ft cruiser w/ a ~10 knot hull. I cruise at about 12 knots, 14 knots max.

Kind regards,

[Badger]

Hi Salty Dogs,

Step 3: Friday AM (assuming a GO)

* Check NOAA Weather on the radio; call spouse who can report current weather at buoy #46029 from Internet

* Monitor Channel 16 and 22 for Coast Guard bar reports

* Listen for reports from fishers on the bar and at sea

* Proceed with caution and common sense, and continue to monitor weather and CG reports.

Calling the spouse, to get latest bouy report from web just before heading out, sounds like a scary proposition if you ask me.

The WX channels on you VHF will give you that information every few minutes (I think the NOAA Weather computer dude updates his report around 3:30 or 4:00 AM daily). All I can see happening from the spouse phone call is getting into a worrisome conversation about whether you should go out in 3 & 6 seas and 15 kt winds forecast for later in the day. And you can do that the night before if necessary.

Being there yourself, you are in a much better position to evaluate bar conditons, including going out and taking a look for yourself if necessary, than anything your spouse can add by taking a quick look at a pc.

Just my $0.02.

[Miss B Haven]

More reason to leave early. In fact- maybe we'll see you coming in on our way out Saturday morning?

Lotsa days we're doing 12 knots too.

[CATCH AND EAT]

Our Ilwaco group will be heading out most likely around 5 to 530 for the bar crossing Friday. We have'nt set a time but that seems to be the general time frame we go by. We hope to travel faster than 12 knots but usually over that bar that is about what we get.

Where are you moored at?

[kenai]

I usually get the tidal current forcast before crossing at the CR. Its only good one day in advance but it gives a better idea of conditions than tide heights. Here it is: tidal currents. Click on the tides link in the upper left hand corner for current projections. Hopefully I can join you guys soon (1 week from new boat completion).

[Zippy]

as we learned from an earlier post,from Whalleraddict,the amount of water sluicing thru can also change based upon the the upstream power generation needs that are driven by consumer useage.Another Heat Wave and the volumn of water will reflect the incresed demand to a degree. As you travel out look at the water moving around the Bouys and note the angle and direction they are leaning as you pass by.

[royalfish]

I am not running Friday, but Miss B was right on. I try to cross at either slack or on the incoming. You should be limited on salmon early if you go at first light.You can most likely cross a couple of hours after the tide has turned on a soft tide.
Check with other boats prior to crossing on the ebb for current conditions. The CG can give you a report. Wind makes a difference also and maximum ebb on any tide can turn up the pucker factor on the CR. If in doubt, wait it out till the tide turns.
9' seas are a little much for me if the swells are less than 10 seconds. Will be runnin on Saturday if the weather permits. Channel 13 on the CB and 68 or 69 on the VHF. Ask for Shearwater. The big blue is awesome!
Good luck and be safe.

[whaleraddict]

Good Questions and good prep ! As Mel pointed out hit the Bar early. We are going Friday as well and as Catch and Eat stated we will be running by B10 about 5:30. We will be on CH 11 VHF (Tuna Channel). You can also call the Bouy from a cell phone at 1-228-688-1948 (National Data Buoy Center) and follow the instructions. As you know the station id is 46029. It is updated every hour and gives you accurate info. As Mel pointed out the Tides are accurate at their given points but they run about and hour longer than posted. Have a safe trip and don't hesitate to hail us on Channel 11 (Whaleraddict, Cindy Lou, or Reel Pleasure)

[Miss B Haven]

David- maybe somebody should warn you...if you run with these guys they aren't stopping at the CR bouy. Not sure you were planning on going 50 miles on your first planned bar crossing.

[PhoebusGroup]

Salty Dogs,

I very much appreciate your comments.

* Upon further thought, Badger is exactly right about *not* checking the Web via the spouse for bar conditions. Susan is apprehensive about bar crossing in the first place. And I wasn't aware that the weather buoy was accessible by phone.


* Catch and Eat - I'll look for you. The Jeanne-Marie is moored in the Warrenton Basin.

* Kenai - thanks for further information on currents.

* Zippy - yep, the leaning buoys are great indicators of current.

* Royalfish - 9' and less than 10 seconds. And thanks for the radio call info.

* whaleraddict - thanks for the radio call info and the buoy call info.

* And, finally, Miss B Haven -- I did know that that gang was heading 50 miles out. Thanks for the warning.

G'day to all,

[CATCH AND EAT]

Oh come on Mel 50 miles on your first crossing is nothing . He'll do just fine as I see he is a very cautious boater and has been paying attention and doing homework. Just follow the red line bouys out to the CR or find the big group of boats and head for them to fish. Weather permiting we will hit the tuna grounds both Fri and Sat.

Hope that 25knot wind does not materialize For friday.

[Walleyed]

[/image]
Hay guy's
I'm far from being a salt dog and not trying to fake it
the name of boat #2 is THE SALTY PUP.
I've been out to Bouy 4 on one of those just because I could days and I was wondering how far out you need to go
to get into mr.salmon. Do you need to go out as far as the CR bouy and just how far is that?
Will be trying to make it out Saturday morn.
Sure would like to meet some of you in person.
The SALTY PUP is a 21' Sun Runner with what my wife calls a cabin ( I call it no room to fish )
If you happen to hear some one on the radio saying Where the heck is everyone! That would be me,
The pup. Walleyed