The Sailings

The Sailings - In the solution of problems involved in the

sailings, the following quantities are used:

1. Latitude (L) - The latitude of departure is designated L1;

that of the point of arrival or the destination, L2; middle
(mid) or mean latitude, Lm; latitude of the vertex of a
great circle, Lv; and latitude of any point of a great
circle, Lx.
2. Mean latitude (Lm) - Half the arithmetical sum of the
latitudes of two places on the same side of the equator.
3. Middle or mid latitude (Lm) - The latitude at which the arc
of length of the parallel separating the meridians
passing through two specific points is exactly equal to
the departure in proceeding from one point to the other.
The mean latitude is normally used for want of a
practicable means of determining the middle latitude.

4. Difference of latitude (D.Lat).

5. Meridional parts (M) - The meridional parts of the point of

departure are designated M1, and of the point of arrival
or the destination, M2.

6. Meridional difference (m).

7. Longitude ( λ ). The longitude of the point of departure is
designated λ1 ; that of the point of arrival or the destina-
tion, λ2 ; of the vertex of a great circle, λv ; and of any
point on a great circle.

8. Difference of longitude (DLo).

9. Departure (p or Dep.).

10. Course or course angle (Cn or C).

11. Distance (D or Dist.).

 Plane Sailing

Plane Sailing - is a method of solving the various problems

involving a single course and distance, difference of
latitude, and departure, in which the earth, or that part
traversed, is regarded as a plane surface. Hence, the
method provides solution for latitude of the point of arrival,
but not for longitude of this point, one of the spherical
sailings being needed for this problem. Because of the
basic assumption that the earth is flat, this method should
not be used for distances of more than a few hundred
miles.
• Plane sailing is based on the
assumption that the meridian
through the point of
departure, the parallel
through the destination, and
the course line form a right
triangle in a plane, called the
"plane sailing triangle".
• Plane sailing is an
approximate method of
navigation over small ranges
of latitude and longitude.
• This is the usual method used
to navigate using paper
charts and maps.
 • The hypotenuse is the
Opposite (Dep) side opposite the
right angle, in this
case c.
• The opposite side is
Adjacent (D.Lat)

the side opposite to

b c the angle we are
interested in, in this
case a.
C
• The adjacent side is
the side that is a leg
of the angle, but not
the hypotenuse, in
this case b.
 Opposite (Dep)
Adjacent (D.Lat)

b c

C
 Formula in solving a Right triangle in relation to Plane
Sailing

Right triangle formula: Plane sailing formula:

Cosine = Adjacent / Hypotenuse Cos C = D.Lat / Dist.
Sine = Opposite / Hypotenuse Sine C = Dep / Dist.
Tangent = Opposite / Adjacent Tan C = Dep / D.Lat
From the first two of these formulas
the following relationships can be
Cosecant = 1 / sine
derived:
Secant = 1 / cosine
D.Lat = D cos C
Cotangent = 1 / Cotangent
D = D.Lat sec C
Dep = D sin C
Problem # 1. M/V PAGADIAN made a D.Lat of 200.75 miles
and a Dep. of 286.7. Find her True course and the distance
travelled.
Solution: Tan C = Dep / D.Lat
= 286.7 / 200.75
= 1.428144458
= 055o
Dist = D.Lat sec C
= 200.75 x sec 55o
= 200.75 x 1.743446796
= 350 miles
Problem # 2. M/V OLT steers 225o and makes a
departure of 456.8 miles. How far did she steam?

Solution: Sin C = Dep / Dist

Dist = Dep / sin C
= 456.8 / sin 45o
= 456.8 / 0.707106781
= 646.0 miles
Problem # 3. M/V OLT steers 055o T. Find the D.Lat and
Dep if the distance made good is 350 miles.
Solution: Sin C = Dep / Dist
Dep = Dist x sin C
= 350 x sin 055o
= 350 x 0.819152044
= 286.7 miles
Cos C = D.Lat / Dist
D.Lat = Dist x cos C
= 350 x cos 055o
= 350 x 0.573576436
= 200.8 miles