What time does the tide change?
If only there was an easy answer to that one! NYC Swim races are scheduled with tidal conditions in mind, which is one reason why start times and race dates shift from year to year. However, while general tidal conditions are largely predictable, there are many variables at play to keep our open water swimming interesting. The times listed in annually published tide charts are based on past observations and the forces of gravity between the moon, earth, and the sun, which play a large role in determining the movement of water in oceans, estuaries, bays, and other tidal bodies of water. Winds, recent rainfall, and barometric pressure also make a difference, as does water depth and distance from shore at a specific location. At one point upstate in 2010 for an extended period, the tide was off over 30 minutes from the predictions. In other words, just like the weather, the tide is not fully predictable. On race day, NYC Swims race organizers will wait or even rush to start a race based o
