Course : MTEC 101

Period : FINALS
Week : 2
Session : 1
Topic : Great Circle Sailing
Course Outcome

Solve problems by great circle sailing in determining

courses and distance
Learning Outcome
At the end of the session the students shall be able to determine
courses and distances by Great Circle Sailing
Importance of the topic
The Great Circle Routes is the shortest distances between any two
places. These circles are beneficial for following the shortest distances
between any two places and help in saving the time for the navigators.
Assignment no.1
Great Circle Distance
 What is the G/C initial course, final course
and distance when going;
From: Lat 1 = 55* 25’ N Long from. = 007* 12’ W
To: Lat 2 = 51* 12’ N long in = 056* 10’ W
4* 13’ S 48* 58’ W

Cos GCD = Cos D’lo x Cos L1 x Cos L2 +/- Sin L1 x sin L2

= cos 48deg 58mins x cos 55deg 25mins x cos 51deg 12mins + sin 55deg25mins x sin 51deg 12mins
=0.65650 x 0.56760 x 0.62660 +0.8330 x 0.77934
= 0.23349 +0.641463
= 28deg 56.4mins
• To find Initial Course
Cos I/cn angle = Sin L2 - (cos GCD x sin L1) / Sin GCD x cos L1
= sin 51*12’ - (cos 28deg 56.4’ X sin 55*25’) / sin 28deg 56.4’ X cos 55*25’
= .77934 - .72049 / .48389 X .56760
= .05885 / .27465
= .21427271 inv cos 77.62713765 inv deg.
= N 77*37.9 W
I/ CO = 282.3deg T
To find latitude of vertex and Final course
Cos LV = Cos L1 x sin 1/c.
= Cos 55* 25’ x Sin 77* 37.9’
LV = 56* 19.7’ North

Cos F/cn = Sin Lat 1 - (Cos GCD x Sin Lat 2)/Sin GCD x Cos Lat2 N
= Sin 55* 25’ - ( Cos 28*56.4’ x Sin 51*12’)/ Sin 28*56.4’ x Cos 51*12’
= .82330 - (.87513 x .77934 = .68202)/ .48389 x .62660
-360 as is
= .82330 - .68202
W E
= .14128/.30321
+180 -180
= .46595 shift Cos = 62.22843 shift deg.
F/cn angle = S 62*13.8’W
Final Cn T = 242.2* S
ALTERNATIVE FORMULA
To find Initial Course
Sin I/CO angle = cos L2 x sin D’Lo / sin GCD
= cos 51deg 12 mins x sin 48deg 58 mins / sin 28deg 56.4mins
N
= 0.47266 / 0.48389
= N 77* 37.9’ W -360 as is
W E
I/ CO = 282.3deg T
+180 -180

S
To find latitude of vertex and Final course
Cos LV = Cos L1 x sin 1/c.
= Cos 55* 25’ x Sin 77* 37.9’
LV = 56* 19.7’ North

Sin F/cn = cos L1 x sin D’lo / sin GCD

= cos 55*25’ X sin 48*58’ / sin 28*56.4’
= .42816 / .48389
= .884829196 inv sin
= 62.23050952 inv deg
= S 62*13.8 W
F/cn T = 242.2 T
To find D’lo to vertex

Sin d’lo = cos Initial cn angle / sin LV

= cos 77*37.9’ / sin 56*19.7’
= .214195499 / .832228396
=.257375859 inv sin
= 14.91441173
= 14*54.9’ W
To find longitude of vertex
Apply d’lo to vertex to your initial longitude to fine longitude of vertex

long V = long1 + d’lo

= 007*12’ + 14*54.9
= 22.115 shift deg
= 22*06.9 W
QUIZ 2