Nautical Term: HW
Definition of HW
High Water, also referred to as mean high water, is the level of the water in a body of water that is on average reached during a flood tide.
For example, during a voyage from New York to Boston, the captain and crew would consult the tidal charts to determine the best time to enter or leave a harbor in relation to the high water mark. In the paragraph below, the term High Water is used to refer to this level of water:
The ship’s log indicated that they had arrived at the entrance to Boston Harbor during the early hours of the morning. The captain and crew consulted the tidal charts and determined that they should wait until the next high water mark before attempting to enter the harbor. They made their preparations and settled in to wait for the next high water mark.
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