How to use the online timer
You are starting the countdown for a second watch of the bay, perhaps because the first tidal cycle was obscured by rain, darkness or an interrupted view. Three hours and seven minutes gives you a fresh, clearly marked window while you note the water’s movement from a harbour wall, sheltered beach or estuary path. Keep your observations separate from the first run so changes in wind, visibility and boat traffic do not blur together.
A repeated watch may need a slightly different finish time if you began before the water reached the point you were using as your marker. The duration can be changed on the page to match the local tide table or the moment the shoreline, mooring post or harbour steps become visible again. If the expected stage arrives early, the remaining time still shows how far your estimate differed; if it is delayed, extending the countdown keeps the second observation continuous.
People beside you may be fishing, walking, working on a boat or quietly watching the same water, so a loud signal can disturb them when this long session ends. Keep the phone close enough to notice a vibration, or choose a restrained sound before settling down. In a busy UK harbour, check that any alert will not be mistaken for equipment aboard a nearby vessel.
Common questions
What could make this second full-cycle watch finish earlier or later?
Wind, weather, the shape of the bay and the exact shoreline marker can affect when the change becomes visible. Compare what you see with the published local tide times rather than treating the alert as the tide itself.
What should I do if the bay reaches the expected stage before this span ends?
Record the time you observed it and stop the countdown if the watch is complete. If the stage has not arrived when the signal sounds, add time while keeping the same reference point.
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