According to Mark Harrison
Tidal Wave Data
Tidal data for the area of Praia Da Luz has been obtained from the buoy near
Faro. It collects data on wave height and diredion. However on 3* May 2007
the buoy malfunctioned and stopped collecting data for the month of May.
Data is available before and after this period and it could be inferred that
these results are consistent with the missing relevant period as there were no
exceptional storm events.
On the 2"d May 2007 the waves were of middle energy of a 2m height and a
easterly drift. When data was next collected on the 22"6May 2007 they were
now low energy waves of 0.5m to I'm with the same easterly winds.
Low tide on the night of the 3* May 2007 was at 2200hrs at 2m. The
maximum amount of beach would be accessible including the rocky outcrop.
High tide on the 4n May 2007 was at 0415hrs at 3.1 m. This would mean that
from 0200hrs onwards half the eastern part of the beach would be submerged
and so access to the rocky outcrop impossible on foot.
Therefore if someone deposited a body into the sea, on the night of M
McCann's disappearance, from the beach the optimum time window for full
access to the whole beach and rocky outcrop was between 2200hrs and
0200hrs. This time window would also be the optimum time for burial in the
sand, not withstanding the digability study limitations previously described.
http://www.mccannpjfiles.co.uk/PJ/MARK_HARRISON.htm
And it goes without saying, that had anything been dropped in the sea at 10pm, it would have been washed in, rather than out to sea.
But an ideal time to pick up by boat, just as the tide is beginning to turn?
The seas were roughening. I can remember that, and there was speculation that had the abduction happened the next day, it might have been rather rough.
