The Vsk5 Tide Table is a tool for Virtual Skipper 5 sailors that provides a visual representation of tide phases and allows users to adjust the high tide time and Day Time to match any race course timing...

How to Use the Vsk5 Tide Table

1. Set High Tide Time

Locate the “High Tide Time” input at the top of the app.

Enter the desired time in HH:MM 24-hour format (e.g., 18:00).

If left unchanged, the chart assumes the default high tide at 18:00, matching the standard Vsk5 setting.

The chart automatically shifts the tide pattern so high tide occurs at the specified time.

2. Read the Tide Chart

The line chart shows tidal phases from low to high.

Hover over the chart to see the current tidal phase (low, flood, high, ebb) at each point.

Wind Wave & Stream Atlas

The Wind Wave & Stream Atlas is an updated, easier to use, version of the originally compiled 2010 PDF,..

Almanach Tribo / Winds, Streams & Waves for Vsk5

The Wind Wave & Stream Atlas is designed to display the wind flow, tidal flow, and wave height patterns for the 14 standard locations used in Vsk5. Unlike the Tropical and Nordic locations, the patterns for the 14 standard locations remain constant and cannot be modified in the Track Editor, making this tool essential for strategizing races.

1. Navigating the Interface

Dropdown Selection Menus:

Location Dropdown – Select one of the 14 available racing locations.

Category Dropdown – Choose between:

Winds (wind flow direction patterns)

Tides (tidal flow direction patterns)

Waves (wave height and direction patterns)

Direction Dropdown – Allows you to select different directions depending on the category.

2. Viewing the Charts

Once a location, category, and direction are selected, the corresponding chart will be displayed.

The chart provides a visual representation of the chosen condition at that location.

3. Interactive Features

Zooming: Use your mouse wheel to zoom in and out.

Panning: Click and drag to move the chart around.

Resetting: To change locations or categories, simply select a new option from the dropdown menus.

Using Both Apps Together

When used in tandem, the Atlas & Tide Table apps provide a complete tactical overview of any of the standard Vsk5 venues:

Determine the tidal phase using the Tide Table.

Open the matching tidal-phase map in the Chart Viewer.

Study how water, wind, and waves behave on each leg of the racecourse.

If the user has the race track file stored locally, the tools can be used to analyze the exact layout of any course at any time:

Identify which side of the beat is naturally favored.

Evaluate whether cross-current or down-current legs require early layline compensation.

Choose gate options based on pressure and current.

Plan start-line techniques depending on whether the current pushes the fleet over or holds it back.

Anticipate downwind instability or increased boat speed from wave-driven surfing.

This approach mirrors how real tacticians prepare for major regattas—by studying charts, tide tables, and local weather patterns well before the fleet ever leaves the dock.