CRUISERS NET Cruisersnet.org
MARSH HARBOUR, ABACOS, BAHAMAS

Listen live mornings to the Abacos Cruiser's Net at 8:15 AM channel 68 VHF.
For Weather and local happenings.
ORIGINATED BY Pattie Toler in Marsh Harbour.
Currently Hosted by Jill Prewit and Susan Malone

Emergency emails read addressed to Cruisers@oii.net Please put Cottage or Vessel name in Subject line of email.

Nothing like the bright clear skys over Abaco, get familar with the sky over Abaco for your next crossing. visit the "Heavens Above":
http://www.heavens-above.com Use 26.54N, -77.06W for Marsh Harbour
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 NOAA's explanation of Significant Wave Height Click Here
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Compass or Auto Pilot Magnetic declination angle adjustment:
Find your declination angle by zip code or Longitude and Latitude: http://www.ngdc.noaa.gov/geomagmodels/struts/calcDeclination
Marsh Harbour 1/1/2013 Magnetic Declination = -8° 20' 5" changing by -4.2' per year  
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*RIP CURRENT: "Most waves are formed by wind and water.  Sea waves usually result from storms, often hundreds of miles from shore...When waves break, water is pushed up the slope of the shore.  Gravity pulls this water back toward the sea.  If it converges into a narrow, river-like current moving away from shore, it forms a RIP CURRENT"*.   Considering our combined high seas and winds, please take special care with your guests, children and pets when swimming along the shore.
*US Lifesaving Assn
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*Datum:
Choosing a datum for nautical charts: For safety reasons, a mariner must be able to know the minimum depth of water that could occur at any point. For this reason, depths and tides on a nautical chart are measured relative to chart datum, which is defined to be a level below which tide rarely falls. Exactly how this is chosen depends on the tidal regime in the area being charted and on the policy of the hydrographic office producing the chart in question; a typical definition is Lowest Astronomical Tide (the lowest tide predictable from based the effects of gravity), or Mean Lower Low Water (the average lowest tide of each day), although Mean Sea Level is sometimes used in waters with very low tidal ranges.

Conversely, if a ship is to safely pass under a low bridge or overhead power cable, the mariner must know the minimum clearance between the masthead and the obstruction, which will occur at high tide. Consequently, bridge clearances etc are given relative to a datum based on high tide, such as Highest Astronomical Tide or Mean High Water Springs.

*Wikipedia
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