Slack tide at the Rip/heads

User avatar
Kestrel
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2015 4:15 pm
Has liked: 6 times
Likes received: 27 times

Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by Kestrel » Sat Aug 04, 2018 5:04 pm

Hi folks

I'm hoping for some info.

Can you give me an estimate (maybe a very rough one) of how long the slack tide lasts at the rip/heads?

Cheers

Kestrel

smile0784
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Thu Apr 26, 2012 5:16 pm
Has liked: 39 times
Likes received: 356 times

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by smile0784 » Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:03 pm

Depends it its high tide or low tide.

I know westen enterence westen port
Low is about a hour and high is about 2 hours to 2.5 hours.

Wolly Bugger
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:25 pm
Has liked: 13 times
Likes received: 49 times

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by Wolly Bugger » Sat Aug 04, 2018 7:12 pm

Kestrel wrote:Hi folks

I'm hoping for some info.

Can you give me an estimate (maybe a very rough one) of how long the slack tide lasts at the rip/heads?

Cheers

Kestrel
Slack water at the heads occurs, when the water level in Port Phillip bay, is the same height as the water level in Bass Straight. One way of determining this is when it is high or low tide at Williamstown then it is slack water at the heads.

Tidal streams can be obtained from a booklet published by the Marine authourity.

User avatar
Sinsemilla
Rank: Gummy Shark
Rank: Gummy Shark
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2016 2:35 pm
Location: Northern Subs
Likes received: 272 times

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by Sinsemilla » Sat Aug 04, 2018 10:15 pm

Wolly is on the money. It doesn't last very long. Is there a reason why you're asking?

Anth

User avatar
Kestrel
Rank: Premium Member
Rank: Premium Member
Joined: Fri Oct 02, 2015 4:15 pm
Has liked: 6 times
Likes received: 27 times

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by Kestrel » Sun Aug 05, 2018 10:48 am

Thanks guys
The reason I’m asking is that I’m likely to be planning a passage through the grads soon and want to plan it for a period of slack tide.
Am I correct in thinking that the period of slack tide is approx one hour?

Wolly Bugger
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:25 pm
Has liked: 13 times
Likes received: 49 times

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by Wolly Bugger » Sun Aug 05, 2018 1:04 pm

If are going through the heads for the first time. I wouldn't unless you have bar crossing experience.

I don't think slack water lasts that long maybe 30 minutes at the most

Wolly Bugger
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:25 pm
Has liked: 13 times
Likes received: 49 times

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by Wolly Bugger » Sun Aug 05, 2018 1:08 pm

Do internet search about slack water at the heads

phil1818
Rank: Cephalopod
Rank: Cephalopod
Joined: Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:42 pm

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by phil1818 » Sun Aug 05, 2018 9:26 pm

What size boat you going out in?

Wolly Bugger
Moderator
Moderator
Joined: Sun Mar 06, 2011 5:25 pm
Has liked: 13 times
Likes received: 49 times

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by Wolly Bugger » Mon Aug 06, 2018 9:21 pm

This is how I learnt about the heads

I booked myself on the rip tour of Port Phillip Heads through the ORC
https://www.orcv.org.au/training/rip-to ... llip-heads

I went with a fishing charter that went through the heads.

I learnt more with the ORCV.

I have now been out the heads probably a dozen times, once when I should not have. However I prefer the heads to the Western Entrance to Western Port.

Out going tide, with strong southerly or westerly winds are times small boats need to avoid,

http://www.yachtingaustralia.com.au/sit ... %20rip.pdf

https://www.scubadoctor.com.au/forums/v ... m.php?f=20

https://www.ppsp.com.au/passage-plannin ... rents.html

User avatar
Sinsemilla
Rank: Gummy Shark
Rank: Gummy Shark
Joined: Fri Apr 29, 2016 2:35 pm
Location: Northern Subs
Likes received: 272 times

Re: Slack tide at the Rip/heads

Post by Sinsemilla » Mon Aug 06, 2018 10:40 pm

Kestrel wrote:Thanks guys
The reason I’m asking is that I’m likely to be planning a passage through the grads soon and want to plan it for a period of slack tide.
Am I correct in thinking that the period of slack tide is approx one hour?
How big is your boat and how much boating experience do you have?

You don't necessarily need to pass through the heads on the slack. What will make an easier passage is light winds. Usually a light northerly keeps the heads flat pretty much all day.

It wouldn't be a bad idea also to go with someone that has a bit of experience just till you get an idea of whats going on.

Cheers, Anth

Post Reply

Return to “Boating”