eOceanic

Next Previous

Coastal Overview for the Needles to Portland Bill

Tides and tools

Overview

Local Tides and Tidal Streams

Tidal Hour:

(Manual calculation)
(Dover)

Small tidal stream inaccuracies can develop when advancing beyond HW Dover +6. Because of this we only enable today's tidal stream chartlets to advance 24 hours. Sorry, future tides are not currently available for this harbour. Please check Admiralty EasyTide.

The above image represents the current tidal streams offshore of this haven. Streams attaining three knots and above are highlighted by red arrows

. All times are in local time with red text indicating springs, blue indicating neaps and gray between tidal events. Click [+] to advance the estimate by an hour and click [-] to step back.

Do you need more information on the tidal graphics?

Arrows represent the direction of tidal streams with lighter or shorter arrows indicating weaker streams. Stronger streams are indicated by heavier or longer arrows, and as mentioned above, red arrows flagging rates of 3 knots and above. Numerals represent [mean neap, mean spring] rates in tenths of a knot. For example the numbers 12,23 would indicate a mean neap of 1.2 knots and a mean spring of 2.3 knots.

More local tidal details

Today's tides — High waters: 10:34, 22:47, Low waters: 07:05, 19:29
Today's Dover tides — High waters: 02:09, 14:27, Low waters: 09:40, 21:58
We are now on Neaps. View future tidal events in our lunar calendar

Lunar calendar

Spring and neap tides are caused by the gravitational attraction of the moon and to a lesser extent the sun. The complex mix of gravitational forces raise bulges of water on both sides of the Earth. These vary in size depending upon the moon's position as it revolves around the Earth each month.

When the moon's orbit places both the moon and the sun's gravitational forces in line, during New Moon and Full Moon , the water level rises higher, falls lower and the tidal runs are faster than usual. These are called spring tides, shown in red. When the moon is in the First Quarter or Last Quarter , out of phase with the sun, lower tides result and lesser tidal runs will be experienced. These are called neap tides, shown in blue.

The maximum spring tide typically lags a day behind the date of New and Full Moon in the British Isles. This is caused by the water masses inertia and friction plus the physics of 'cause and effect' where the largest impact occurs after the force has been imparted.

Calculate future tides

This tool can be used to estimate future costal tidal streams for this area. All that is required are two simple steps:

Step 1: What is the Dover High Water for the target date?

Use a current Dover Tide Table to find Dover High Water for the target date. The National Oceanography Centre offers online tidal predictions for up to 28 days from today. Click here to open their tide table for Dover

Step 2: Input the target date's Dover High Water

Hour: Minute:

Taking a mean tidal offset from Dover's tide, we expect your targetted date's associated local tide at to be:

High waters: Low waters:

Data based on an average tide is only accurate to within one hour, if you more precise times are required use the ISA tidal predictions, with offset -01:00.

Tidal Hour:

()

For planning purposes only, not for navigation. Please see our terms and conditions.

Predict Future Tidal Windows

Route Weather

Swanage Harbour

Today's overview	Wednesday	Thursday	Friday	Saturday
5	4	4	2	2

15°C 15°C	16°C 12°C	12°C 9°C	10°C 6°C	13°C 10°C

The above wind speeds are expressed in the Beaufort scale. Red indicates strong winds of 6 or higher.

Headline: Sunshine and showers. Turning colder on Thursday.

Today: A misty and murky start for some, then brightening up with sunny intervals but plenty of heavy showers. Slow-moving thundery downpours are possible in places. Breezy along the south coast. Maximum Temperature 16C.

Tonight: Further heavy showers this evening and overnight mixed with some clear spells though generally easing by dawn. Staying breezy in the south though rather mild. Minimum Temperature 10C.

Wednesday: Any low cloud and fog soon lifting to leave another day of sunshine and showers, though these generally fewer and lighter than on Tuesday. Turning breezier. Maximum Temperature 18C.

Outlook for Thursday to Saturday: Drier on Thursday with a few showers in the west. Largely fine on Friday with sunshine, with further showers into Saturday. Turning colder with patchy fog and frost possible overnight.

Click [+] to advance by twelve hours and click [-] to step back. The forecasted time is presented in the top left hand corner of the pressure chart. Click the image to display it in a full window.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence

Get today's Met Office Video Forecast

Find Routes

Welcome to the 'find routes' tool. Use this tool to discover all the coastal descriptions, short cuts, and tidal strategies we offer for a particular passage between our listed destinations; more information.

All pages provide our menu bar, to navigate to and browse through listed 'Routes', plus our site wide text search capability. The text search capability may be narrowed to individually target 'Experience', 'Routes' or 'Havens' by selecting the tabs beneath the search box. But text searches are not optimal when it comes to finding Routes pertaining to a particular passage unless you know what you are looking for. This is what our 'Find routes' tool is for.

'Find routes' exposes all published 'Routes' information that may be of interest for a specific passage. This is easily achieved by selecting where you are, or a nearest Haven, and the desired destination, or its nearest Haven. Then click 'Go' and 'Find routes' does the rest.

Destination Harbour

County:
Harbour:

Starting Harbour

County:
Harbour:

When you're ready press or press

to clear and start anew

Find Havens

You are three steps from finding what you're looking for



Set your current location	Set the maximum distance you are prepared to travel	Check off what you want

Where are you?

There are three ways to locate the start point of your search more information.

If it is a listed location, or there is a listed location nearby, simply select the county and haven to determine the search origin. Alternatively if you have a chart, plotter or GPS input the position in decimal degrees. Finally if you are there right now your computer may be able to automatically locate its current position via auto-locate.

There are three ways to get started; base your search from one of our listed locations, input a position, or let us try to automatically detect your current location.

Select a haven

Input a position

Auto-locate

Sorry, we couldn't find your location.

° ' Lat
° ' Long

County:
Harbour:

How far are you prepared to travel?

Set the range for your search more information.

The described position in step one will centre a search and the range sets the radius of a circular search area. All suitable targets, in all directions, within the direct point-to-point or aerial transit path of the range will be presented. Because the search is based on this charted distance in most cases the actual sailing passages will require extra mileage to circumvent navigational obstacles.

Find havens within of my location.

What do you need?

Refine your search to target specific shelter, location type or facilities. Alternatively you can press 'Go' now to find all the locations within the selected range.

Check the required
resource type(s)

Specific shelter

Describe the sectors you want sheltered, where you expect the wind to blow from. You may manually input each by checking the compass points or auto-fill by checking the required days on this location's five day weather forecast, more information.

You may also use a combination of both manual and forecast auto-fill to add additional sectors. Please note that the forecast auto-fill adds one compass point on either side of the forecast to allow for variability. The grey segments in the compass rose provide a visual summary of the shelter construct.

Check the compass points

Or check the days you require

Or select all compass points

Or select all five days

Please note that forecast auto-fill adds one compass point on either side of the forecast to allow for variability.

Level of protection

You may refine your search to specify a minimum level of protection, more information.

Quality of shelter is characterised from one to five stars and are described below. All levels are selected by default and you can set what is appropriate by checking the minimum star rating level. If you do not set a minimum level all havens that cover the requested quadrants will be presented irrespective of the quality of the shelter provided.

Specifying the minimum level of protection is important as this may vary significantly depending upon what it is needed for and the prevailing conditions. For instance, if conditions are moderate and it is simply needed for a lunch stop, most all locations from one star will be suitable. When looking for a location to stay overnight in comfort it would be more appropriate to select a three star minimum. Or when seeking shelter in rough conditions a minimum of four stars would be best. All of these depend upon what you are personally comfortable with, plus the capabilities of the vessel and crew.

Check the minimum
level of protection

		Complete protection; all-round shelter in all reasonable conditions.
		Good; assured night's sleep except from specific quarters.
		Tolerable; in suitable conditions a vessel may be left unwatched and an overnight stay.
		Exposed; unattended vessels should be watched from the shore and a comfortable overnight stay is unlikely.
		Stay-aboard; lunch stop or tide-wait exposed or tenacious holding location where a vessel should not be left unattended.

Ease of access

You may refine your search to the set how easy seaward access is to the resources, more information.

Approaches to the shelter are also characterised from one to five stars. All access levels are selected by default and the minimum level of access complexity may be chosen by clicking the appropriate minimum star rating.

This minimum level of access complexity may vary significantly depending upon the time available, the vessel and skill levels of the crew plus the prevailing conditions. For instance, if conditions are moderate, plus time and experience are plentiful, the one star minimum could be the most suitable option for the adventurous sailor. If conditions are more developed, but the visibility is good, a three star minimum could be the best fit. Or when seeking shelter in heavy weather conditions a four stars access minimum may be best. All of these depend upon what you are personally comfortable with, plus the capabilities of the vessel and crew.

Check the minimum
ease of access

		Safe access; all reasonable conditions.
		Straightforward; when unaffected by weather from difficult quadrants or tidal consideration, no overly complex dangers.
		Attentive navigation; daylight access with dangers that need attention.
		Careful navigation; good visibility and conditions with dangers that require careful navigation.
		Highly involved navigation; complex dangers that require arduous navigation, good visibility and settled conditions.

Specific type of location

If you wish to refine your selection to only represent locations that can support a minimum LWS draught input the minimum here, more information.

We tend to highlight the medium draught of a Haven and the search will focus on this. Deeper and shallower water may be available on closer inspection of the text.

Minimum draught required:

Nature of location

If you wish to restrict your results to a specific type of location, or several alternative types of location, check them here. Otherwise all location types will be presented in your results.

Check the icons
you require

Anchorage

Beach or shoreline landing from a tender

Landing by tender

Berth alongside a deep water pier or raft up to other vessels

Alongside pier

Historic, geographic or culturally significant location; or in the immediate vicinity

Interesting

Jetty

Marina

Navigation lights to support a night approach

Night lights

Secluded

Sailing club

Scenic

Moorings

Urban

Village

Quick access

Secure location

No fees for anchoring or berthing in this location

No berthing charge

Approved port for vessels requiring clearance to lawfully enter the country

Port of entry

Flag physical restrictions

If you wish to flag locations that have the following specific physical restrictions click on the listed icon or icons below.

Check all

Check the icons
to be avoided

Restriction: landing not recommended, possible or permitted here

No landing

Drying

Restriction: access via a channel with a lock or enclosed by a lock

Lock-in

Restriction: height or air draft restrictions may apply

Height restriction

Restriction: access requires lifting or swing bridge to open

Opening bridge

Overwhelming tides

Restriction: may only reasonably accommodate vessels less than a specific length

Length restriction

Restriction: rising tide required for access

Tidal

Sand bar

DANGER: Subject to conditions that could trap and destroy a vessel

DANGER: potential trap

Sill

Flag challenges

If you wish to flag locations that have the following listed complications click on their icon or icons below.

Check all

Check the icons
to be avoided

Fish farming area

Charges levied

Swimming area

Strong tides

Overfalls

Strong eddies

It is a long way in

Subject to congestion

Separation Scheme

Subject to wash

Little air protection

For draughts of 1m or less

Naval or military restrictions

Specific facilities

If you wish to restrict your results to locations with a specific type of facility, or several alternative types of facility, click the icons below.

Check the required
facilities

Cycle hire

Hard-standing

Bus

Car hire

Cashpoint

Chandlery

Diesel alongside

Shore power

Electronic repair

Extensive shopping

Fuel by jerry can

Fuel by tanker

Waste disposal

Gas

Handicapped access

Haul-out

Hot food

Internet café

Laundry

Marine engineering

Walks

Supermarket

Petrol alongside

Post Office

Public houses

Sanitation pump-out

Airport within 25 km

Rigging services

Sail repair

Scuba refill

Basic shopping

Family recreation

Toilets

Showers

Slipway

Rail connections

Tourist information

Marina cart

Tap

Wireless access

Water hose

Doctor

Pharmacy

Dry out and scrub

Nice beach

When you're ready press or press to clear and start anew

Thank you for using eOceanic, can you suggest how to make it better?

Please note eOceanic makes no guarantee of the validity of this information, we have not visited this haven and do not have first-hand experience to qualify the data. Although the contributors are vetted by peer review as practised authorities, they are in no way, whatsoever, responsible for the accuracy of their contributions. It is essential that you thoroughly check the accuracy and suitability for your vessel of any waypoints offered in any context plus the precision of your GPS. Any data provided on this page is entirely used at your own risk and you must read our legal page if you view data on this site. Free to use sea charts courtesy of Navionics.