British Hydrographicological Society

The British Hydrographicological Society (formerly and erroneously known as The British Royal Hydrographicological Society) exists purely to promulgate knowledge about the phenomenon that boats DO go uphill (or conversely, downhill) depending on the state of the tide.

The illustration on the left clearly shows the phenomenon. The Society has become famous for promulgating this phenomenon to learned mariners. Produced by Neil White for the Society it is strictly copyrighted by the Society and all rights are reserved. Unauthorised copying will be severely punished under Section 15 of the Maritime & Seafaring Act of 1937 Paragraph 19(a). Click on the image to supersize.

For more information view this photograph or visit KEBC message board . 2 messages on the subject have been extracted and copied below.

Message Number 40 posted on KEBC Message Board Sunday 2 March 2008 4.16pm (by "Neil")

The photograph of boats going uphill at the head of the Estuary set me thinking. The heights of tides around the UK are measured relative to the same Chart Datum; that is, the level of the predicted lowest astronomical tide (LAT), irrespective of weather or other atmospheric conditions, as measured at Plymouth, Portsmouth and Rothsay. (Ordnance Datum may be varied at different locations). On Sunday 23rd March the high tide at Avonmouth is predicted on this basis at 13.27 metres. On the same day, the high tide at Newlyn is predicted at 5.49 metres. Sailing east in the Bristol Channel at that time (or on any other high tide there) you WOULD be going uphill. The converse, of course, also applies

Message Number 41 posted on KEBC Message Board Monday 3 March 2008 11.27pm (by the "British Hydrographicological Society")

In the matter of comparative heights of tides in the Bristol Channel (and elsewhere} and whether, therefore, sailors might be obliged to adapt their circumstances to accommodate uphill or downhill travel accordingly; the theory as propounded on your website is irrefutably correct. Anyone attempting to dispute the proposition may render themselves liable to charges under the "Maritime Heresy Act, 1723 AD", scheduled for repeal since 1913 but, as yet remaining on the statute book. You should note that the penalties are unusually severe.

Ref: Research Paper, March 1859, "Survey and Study of British Tide Gradient Effects": BRHS 128/09874 (Revised and republished, 1999, British Admiralty, ISBN 9 77987 502, (Peer reviewed, various journals, 1863- 2001). The British Library holds the relevant original documents, available for study to those with appropriate clearance.

Joining the British Hydrographicological Society
As a learned Society there is no membership subscription and joining is straightforward. It consists of completing, either in writing or stating in front of a witness the following assertion.
"I (your name) do solemnly believe that boats go uphill or downhill depending on the state of the tide."
Just paste this into an email and send it.
Your application will be acknowledged and if successful you will be entitled to use the letters MBHS after your name.

The Society meets at 8.00pm in the Crabshell Inn on the third Wednesday of the month.

Robert James Moore MBHS	In a moving ceremony on 16 July 2008, ROBERT JAMES MOORE MBHS became the first Welsh member of the Society. His declaration “R’wyf i Robert James Moore un credu’n ddwysol fod cwch yn mynd i fynu ac i lawr y bryn, yn ddibynol ar y llanw” was witnessed by the founding member of the British Hydrographicological Society, Mr N White MBHS, and a member of Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club, Mr J Gobbett. Robert is pictured left in full ceremonial regalia. Click on his image to supersize.	Mr N White MBHS	Mr J Gobbett KEBC
26 May 2009 Norman Dilley has become a member of the BHS and is entitled to use MBHS after his name. Other members may wish to offer their congratulations on the guestbook. Mr Dilley will undergo full initiation in due course.

Link to Kingsbridge Estuary Boat Club