Flood and Ebb directions refer to the true compass course of the tidal current. For instance, at Race Rocks, they state that the tidal current floods in the direction of 091 degrees(true). So if you are trying to kayak through Race Passage at maximum flood, you will be set to the East (at an alarming rate!) In my home waters of Southern BC, you can generally rely on the tide flooding Northerly and ebbing Southwards. For yourself, if you are going to cross from Anacortes to the San Juans, you can expect to be set to the North during the flood, and South during the trip home. Of course certain passages don't go North/South but the overall trend is Northwards flooding. Ergo the tidal current at Race Rocks flooding Easterly. The cross-over point is at Middlenatch Island in the Northern part of Georgia where it floods Southwards and ebbs Northwards. The entrance to Admiralty Inlet will see Southerly flooding and Northerly(ish) ebbing.

: I used one of the NOAA Weather calculators for my last outing and the
: forecast was right on the button. It's better than local weather IMHO.
: Check out www.nws.noaa.gov/forecasts/graphical/sectors/pacnorthwest.php
: and hover the mouse over the table to the left. The other site is
: www.saltwatertides.com for tide tables.

: Question: NOAA has an online current atlas but I haven't figured out how to
: use it yet see www.co-ops.nos.noaa.gov/currpred.html What do the
: "Direction at Maximum", "Flood Direction" and
: "Ebb Direction" refer to - compass headings? How does this
: functionality compare to the hardcopy current atlases?