Which tool is used to predict current speeds and tide timing?

• A. Nautical charts
• B. Weather forecast
• C. Satellite images
• D. Tide/current tables

Answer: (D)

Tide/current tables are used to predict current speeds and tide timing. They provide the expected times of high and low tides for a specific location and the associated current directions and speeds as the tide rises and falls. This information is essential for planning paddle trips, choosing launch times, and navigating safer routes, since currents can greatly affect speed and control.

Nautical charts show depths, hazards, and navigation aids and may indicate general current info, but they don’t give precise predictions of current speeds and timing. Weather forecasts tell you about wind, storms, and conditions that influence waves and currents, but they don’t provide the exact tidal timing and current speeds. Satellite images show current conditions in real time, not forecasted timings.