Great Circle Sailing Notes PDF

DECK 122 (NAVIGATION-II)
Great circle sailing
GREAT CIRCLE SAILING
Lindbergh Chart of the Great

circle sailing chart of the North
Atlantic Ocean 1926 SAK 1
A great circle is a circle which cuts the a sphere into
two equal halves and its centre is coincident with the
centre of the sphere.
SAK 2
Plane passing through

centre of the sphere
Great circle
SAK 3
The equator is a great circle.
 A Great circles cross the
equator at two points 180° apart.
 All longitutes are great circle.
SAK 4
SAK 5
SAK 6
P
Show the great
circles
SAK 7
PA, PB, AB is an arc of Great
circle P
PAB is an spherical triangle
O is the centre of the sphere
The lenght of side AB is angle
AOB
Angle O is not equal to angle P
O
B
SAK 8
P=Elevated Pole (i.e. pole chosen for
the triangle)
Angle P=D.Long from A to B (E or W)
Side PA=Angular distance of A from the P Vn

Elevated Pole 'P'. For example if elevated
pole is North Pole and A is in north
B
latitude then PA = 90°-LAT A.
If elevated pole is North Pole and A is in
south latitude then PA = 90° +LAT A.
Equator A
Side PB = Angular distance of B from
the Elevated Pole 'B' Vs
Prime
meridian
SAK 9
North elevated pole
SAK 11
North elevated pole P
The elevated pole

chosen can be in
either hemisphere.
SAK 12
Equator
South elevated pole
PB=90-Lat B
SAK 13
South elevated pole
SAK 14
South elevated pole
SAK 15
To find distance AB:
Cos AB = Cos P x Sin PB x Sin PA + Cos PB x Cos PA
P is Elevated Pole (i.e. pole
chosen for the triangle) P Vn
Angle P = D.Long from A to B
(E or W) B
PA = Co Lat A
PB = Co Lat B
Equator A
Vs
Co Lat in the same hemisphere (90-Lat)
Co lat in the opposite =
hemisphere(90+Lat) Prime
meridian
SAK 16
 You may prefer to use the adjusted Marc St Hilaire
Formula
 Cos AB = Cos P x Cos Lat A x Cos Lat B ± Sin Lat A x
Sin Lat B
P Vn
Equator A
Vs
(+ if A and B have same name)
(- if A and B have different
names) Prime
meridian
SAK 17
To find initial course A;
Cos A = (Cos PB - Cos PA x Cos AB) / (Sin PA x Sin AB)
To find final course – reciprocal of B;

Cos B = (Cos PA - Cos PB x Cos AB )/ (Sin PB x Sin AB)
P
Vessel is sailing from A to B

AB = distance
PAB or angle A = initial course
PBA or angle B = reciprocal of final
course SAK 18
The principal advantage of calculating great circles
this way is that once PA and PB have been
calculated, the rest can be left to the calculator and
no ambiguity concerning sides or angles bigger or
less than 90° will occur.
When calculating spherical triangles it is best to
convert all sides and angles into decimal angles.
This can be done using the ° '" button on your
calculator, or by dividing the minutes by 60.
Always work to 3 decimal places of a degree when
using decimal angles.
SAK 19
Great circle sailing-Example
Lat A = 34° 27’ N P
Lat B = 41° 23’ S

A
D.Long = 105° 44’
North elevated pole
PA = 90° – 34° 27’
PA = 55° 33’
B
Calculator
Press 90 Press °’’’Press – Press 34 Press°’’’Press 27°’’’
SAK 20
Lat A = 34° 27’ N P
Lat B = 41° 23’ S

D.Long = 105° 44’ E A
North elevated pole

PA = 90° – 34° 27’
PA = 55° 33’ = 55.55
PB = 90° + 41° 23’
B
PB = 131° 23’= 131.383
SAK 21
Cos AB = Cos P x Sin PB x Sin PA + Cos PB x Cos PA P
Lat A = 34° 27’ N
A
Lat B = 41° 23’ S
D.Long = 105° 44’ E=105.733
PA = 55° 33’=55.55 B
PB = 131° 23’ = 131.383
Cos AB= Cos 105° 44’ x Sin 131° 23’ x Sin 55° 33’ + Cos 131° 23’ x Cos 55° 33’
Cos AB = - 0.541743104
Press shift Press cos Press Answer Press enter
AB = 122.802 To convert degress Press shift Press °’’’

or Press °’’’ Press enter 122° 48’ 07”
Distance AB = 122.802 x 60 = 7368.1 mile.
SAK 22
Cos A = (Cos PB - Cos PA x Cos AB) / (Sin PA x Sin AB)
PA = 55° 33’
A
PB = 131° 23’
AB = 122° 48’ 07”
Becarefull when transferring the formula to the calculator! B
Use ( and ) or divide sin PA and Sin AB !
Initial course N 120.8 E so Course = 120.8 T

Cos B = (Cos PA - Cos PB x Cos AB )/ (Sin PB x Sin AB)
Final course S 70.8 E = 109.2 T
SAK 23
Find the initial and final course and total distance from;
(A) California 35° 10’ N – 120° 45’ W to
P
(B) Aucland 36° 51’ S – 174° 49’ E.
To find Dlong: A
120° 45’+ 174° 49’ = Ans

360°- Ans = 64° 26’ E
Dlong= 64° 26’ E
= 64°.433 E
B
SAK 24
(A) California 35 10 N – 120 45 W to
(B) Aucland 36 51 S – 174 49 E.
P
P = 64° 26’
A
PA = 90° - 35°10’ = 54° 50’
PB = 90°+ 36° 51’=126° 51’
Distance = 93° 37’.1 x 60

AB = 5617.1 mile.
B
SAK 25
(A)California 35 10 N – 120 45 W to
(B) Aucland 36 51 S – 174 49 E.
Cos A = (Cos PB - Cos PA x Cos AB )/ Sin PA x Sin AB
P
P = 64° 26’
A
PA = 54° 50’
PB = 126° 51’
AB = 93° 37’.1
a = N 133.67 W
Initial Course C = 226°.3 T
B
SAK 26
Find the initial and final course and total distance from; (A)
California 35 10 N – 120 45 W
to (B) Aucland 36 51 S – 174 49 E.
Cos B = (Cos PA - Cos PB x Cos AB )/ Sin PB x Sin AB
P
P = 64° 26’ A
PA = 54° 50’
PB = 126° 51’
AB = 93° 37’.1 B
b = N 47.63 E
Recip Co or Final Co = S 47.53 W
C = 227.6° T
SAK 27
Great circle sailing- Napier's Rules
Vertex
Maximum Latitude that the P
great circle reaches is known as
the vertex.
Vertex north and Vertex south
Vn
Vs A
The latitude of the vertex equals the
angle between the great circle and the
equator at the intersection of the great
circle and the equator.
SAK 28
 Vertex of a Great Circle
 The vertex of a great circle is the maximum latitude point
of the great circle. The vertex has the following properties:
 There is a maximum latitude point in both the northern
and southern hemispheres; these points have the same
value of latitude (eg if northern vertex = 40°N then
southern vertex = 40°S).
 The longitudes of the vertices are 180° apart (e.g. if one is
in 20°W, the other is in 160°E).
 At the vertex the course on the great circle is exactly 090°T
or 270°T, depending on whether you are proceeding
towards the east or the west. This means that the angle
between the great circle and the meridian at the vertex is
always 90°.
SAK 29
Sailing A to B
<90
Vertex before the start position
SAK 30
Sailing A to B
Vertex between the start and end position

SAK 31
Sailing A to B
Vertex After the final Position
SAK 32
Rule:
A and B less than 90° vertex between A and
B
A bigger than 90° , vertex before the A.
B bigger than 90° , vertex after the B.
SAK 33
 Position of the Vertex and use of Napier's
Rules
 The basic form of Napier's Rules is used to resolve
the following:
Finding the position of the vertex of a great circle
Solving the great circle legs of a composite great
circle
Resolving any other right angled spherical triangle,
be it terrestrial or celestial
SAK 34
PA = Polar distance of A = (90° - Lat of A)
Vertex
PV = Polar distance of V = (90° - Lat of V)
VA = Arc of great circle.
P
SAK 35
1
Vertex
PV = Polar distance of V = (90° - Lat of V)
VA = Arc of great circle.
P
5 6 2
4 6
3 5 3
2 V
1
A
4
SAK 36
To find Lat. of vertex
1
Vertex
We know; A = Initial course and
P
5 6 2
4 6
3 5 3
2 V
1
A
4
SAK 37
 Sine of middle part = Product of Tan of Adjacent
Parts
 Sine of middle part = Product of Cos of Opposite
Parts
 Sin PV = Cos Co A x Cos Co PA

Cosine of a complementary angle is its sine
e.g. Cos Co 30° = Sin 30°
 Sin PV = Sin A x Sin PA

 Lat of vertex
SAK 38
 Sin mid part = Product of tan of adjacents.
 Sin Co PA = Tan Co A x Tan Co P
 Cos PA = 1 / Tan A x 1/ Tan P

 Multiple by Tan P
 Tan p x Cos PA = 1/Tan A
 Tan P = 1 / (Tan A x Cos PA)
 This gives us P, the D.Long between A and V, and

hence the longitude of V.
SAK 39
 To find the position of the vertex you will first have
to find the great circle initial course angle A. This
will be found by the cosine rule
 We will then know two parts of the triangle and
can find any other part. The parts we know are
Angle A and the Co-Latitude of A (PA).
 We need to find PV (when taken from 90°, PV will
give the latitude of the vertex), and angle VPA (the
D.long between A and V) which is applied to the
known longitude of A to give the longitude of the
vertex.
SAK 40
 A vessel sails on a great circle from A 40° 00'N 50°
00'W to B 43° 00'N 015° 00'W. Find the initial
course and the position of the vertex.
SAK 41
 A vessel sails on a great circle from A 40° 00'N 50°
00'W to B 43° 00'N 015° 00'W. Find the initial
course and the position of the vertex.
 First find AB and initial course
 D.Long = 35° E = P
 PA = 50°
 PB = 47°
 Cos AB= Cos 35xSin47xSin50+Cos47xCos50
 26° 11’ 36’’
 AB=1571.6 mile
SAK 42
Initial course
 PA = 50°
 PB = 47°
 AB= 26° 11’ 36’’
Cos A = (Cos PB-Cos PAxCos AB)/(SinPAxSinAB)
Course = N 71,87 E
Course = 71,87° T
SAK 43
 PA = 50° P
 PB = 47°
 AB= 26° 11’ 36’’
50
Initial Course = 71,87 T
71,87
V
Sin PV = Sin A x Sin PA
A
PV = 46,72= 46 43’ 12”
Lat of vertex = 90- 46 43’ 12”
Lat of vertex = 43° 16’ 48” N
SAK 44
Initial course P
 PA = 50°
 PB = 47°
50
 AB= 26° 11’ 36’’
 Course = 71,87 T 71,87
V
Lat of vertex = 43° 16’ 48” N
A
Tan P = 1 / Tan A x Cos PA
P = D.Long=26° 59’ 38” E
Long of vertex = 50W- 26° 59’ 38” E=23° 00’ 22” W
SAK 45
 Solution of right-angled spherical triangles to find
latitudes of intermediate points along great circle
tracks.
 In practice, a GC route is approximated by following a
succession of rhumb lines between points on the GC. We
can use Napier's Rules to find these intermediate points.
SAK 46
P
PA = Co Lat A PV = Co Lat V
LV
L V
A
We know PV and P (the D.long from V to longitude of L).
We need to find PL, and hence Lat L.
Sin Mid Part = Tan Adjacents
Sin Co P = Tan PV x Tan Co PL
Cos P = Tan PV x Tan Lat L Tan Lat L = Cos P / Tan PV
Cos P / Tan PV = Tan Lat L
SAK 47
 Find the great circle distance and the initial and
final courses from Wellington (A) 41° 38' S 175° 28'
E to Panama (B) 07°24'N 079° 55 'W
 Find also the position of the vertex and the
latitude of a point on the great circle in longitude
140°W
SAK 48
 Find the great circle distance and the initial and
final courses from Wellington (A) 41° 38' S 175° 28'
E to Panama (B) 07°24'N 079° 55 'W
 Draw the sketch
SAK 49
 Draw the sketch
B 7° 24'N
SAK 50
A =41° 38' S 175° 28' E
B =07°24'N 079° 5 5 'W
PA =
PB =
P =
SAK 51
A =41° 38' S 175° 28' E
Long A : 175° 28' E
B =07°24'N 079° 55 'W Long B : 079° 55 'W
Dlong : 255 23 W
South elevated pole 360
D.Long : 104° 37’ E
PA = 48° 22’
PB = 97° 24’
P = 104° 37’ = D.long= 104° 37’ E
AB = ?
SAK 52
A =41° 38' S 175° 28' E
B =07°24'N 079° 5 5 'W
PA = 48° 22’
PB = 97° 24’
P = 104° 37’
Cos AB = Cos 104 37x Sin 48 22 x Sin 97 24+Cos 48

22x Cos 97 24
AB=105.819*60=6349.2 mile=105° 49’ 10”
SAK 53
A =41° 38' S 175° 28' E; B =07°24'N 079° 5 5 'W
PA = 48° 22’
PB = 97° 24’
P = 104° 37’
AB=105° 49’ 10”=105.819°=6349.2
Initial course:
SAK 54
A =41° 38' S 175° 28' E ; B=07°24'N 079° 5 5 'W
PA = 48° 22’
PB = 97° 24’
P = 104° 37’
AB=105° 49’ 10”=105.819°
Course: Cos A= (Cos PB-CosPAxCosAB) / Sin PA x Sin AB
A = 85.828 (angle)
Intial course = S 85.8 E = 180-85.8= 094.2 T
SAK 55
A =41° 38' S 175° 28' E ; B=07°24'N 079° 5 5 'W
PA = 48° 22’
PB = 97° 24’
P = 104° 37’
AB=105° 49’ 10”=105.819°
Cos B= (Cos PA-CosPBxCosAB) / Sin PB x Sin AB

A = 48.738 (angle)
Final course= N 48.7 E= 048.7 T
SAK 56
SAK 57
A =41° 38' S 175° 28' E ; B=07°24'N 079° 5 5 'W
PA = 48° 22’ PB = 97° 24’ P = 104° 37’
AB=105° 49’ 10”=105.819°
A= S 85.8 E , B= N 48.7 E
Latitute of vertex:
Sin Mid Part= Cos opposite parts
Sin PV = Cos Co A x Cos Co PA
Sin PV = Sin A x Sin PA
Sin PV = Sin 85.828 x Sin 48° 22’
PV = 48.196°
Lat V = 90-48.196 = 41.804 = 41 48.2 S
SAK 58
A =41° 38' S 175° 28' E ; B=07°24'N 079° 5 5 'W
PA = 48° 22’ PB = 97° 24’ P = 104° 37’
AB=105° 49’ 10”=105.819°
Longitute of vertex:
Sin Mid Part = Tan Adjacent Parts
Sin Co PA = Tan Co A x Tan Co P
Cos PA = 1 / Tan A x 1 / Tan P
Tan P = 1 / (Tan A x Cos PA)
P = 6.266° or 6° 15’ 57”
Longitude of vertex = 175° 28'E + 6°15'.9E = 181°43'.9E or 178° 16'.1W
Longitute : 178° 16’.1 W
SAK 59
To calculate the latitude of a point on the great circle in
140°W. In triangle VPL:
The polar angle P is 178° 16.1 W - 140°W =38°16.6’ or 38.268
PV = 48.196°
Sin Co P = Tan PV x Tan PL
Cos P = Tan PV x (1/Tan Lat L)
Tan Lat L = Cos P / Tan PV
Tan L = 0.70208
Lat of point is 35.072° or 35° 04'.3S in longitude 140° West
SAK 60
To calculate the latitude of a point on the great
circle in 85°W
In triangle VPL: The polar angle P is 178° 16MW-85°W = 93°
16'.1 or 93.268° PV = 48.196°
Tan Lat L = Cos P / Tan PV = 0.05098

Lat of point is-2.918° S =2.918°N =2° 55’.1 N in longitude 85°W
(- sign means go to the opposite latitude from the pole used
in the calculation.)
SAK 61
Great circle sailing- Self assessment test
Find the great circle distance and the initial and
final courses from Dondra Head, South of Sri Lanka
05° 48' N 80° 36' E to Cape Leeuwin in Western
Australia 34° 26' S 115° 04' E. Find the position of the
vertex and the latitude of a point on the track in
longitude 100°E
SAK 62
P
A=05° 48' N 80° 36' E
B= 34° 26' S 115° 04' E A
PA=90- 05° 48‘N = 84° 12’

PB=90+34° 26'S = 124° 26’ B
D.Long= 115° 04' E- 80° 36' E =34° 28’ E or 34.467
AB=51.729°=x60=3103.7 mile
SAK 63
A=05° 48' N 80° 36' E ; B= 34° 26' S 115° 04' E P
PA=90- 05° 48‘N = 84° 12’ A

PB=90+34° 26'S = 124° 26’
D.Long= 115° 04' E- 80° 36' E =34° 28’ E or 34.467
AB=51.729°=x60=3103.7 mile B

A=N143.5E
Course= 143.5 T
SAK 64
A=05° 48' N 80° 36' E ; B= 34° 26' S 115° 04' E P
PA=84° 12’ PB= 124° 26’ A

D.Long=34° 28’ E or 34.467
AB=51.729°=x60=3103.7 mile
A=N143.5E Course= 143.5 T B

Cos B = (Cos PA - Cos PB x Cos AB )/ Sin PB x Sin AB
B=45.817°
Final course=S45.817°E or 134.2° T
SAK 65
A=05° 48' N 80° 36' E ; B= 34° 26' S 115° 04' E P
PA=84° 12’ PB= 124° 26’
D.Long=34° 28’ E or 34.467
AB=51.729°=x60=3103.7 mile V A
A=N143.5E Inital Course= 143.5 T
B=45.817° Final course=S45.817°E or 134.2° T
Where is vertex? B
SAK 66
A=05° 48' N 80° 36' E ; B= 34° 26' S 115° 04' E P
PA=84° 12’ PB= 124° 26’
D.Long=34° 28’ E or 34.467
AB=51.729°=x60=3103.7 mile V A
A=N143.52E Inital Course= 143.5 T
B=45.817° Final course=S45.817°E or 134.2° T
pAv=180-143.52=36.48 B
AV PV
pAv vPa
☺
PA
☺
SAK 67
2. Find the great circle distance and the initial and final
courses from Fastnet Island 51°16'N 9° 3 6 'W to Mona
Passage 18°28'N 67° 3 2 ' W .Find the position of the
longitude 20°W
courses from Strait of Magellan 52° 23' S 68° 18' W to
Cape Town 33° 53'S 18° 2 0 ' E. Find the position of the
longitude 0°E
courses from Durban 29° 53'S 31° 0 4 ' E to Fremantle
32° 04'S 115° 2 6 ' E Find the position of the vertex and
the latitude of a point on the track in longitude 100°E
SAK 68
Composite GC sailing
 It is not always possible or desirable to travel along
a great circle for some of the following reasons.
 The great circle track may pass through high
latitudes where weather is likely to be rough and
the ship may encounter large waves and swell.
 The great circle track may pass over land.
 The saving of distance is small in low latitudes, or
if the course is nearly north/south.
 A great circle track may take the ship into head
winds and adverse currents.
SAK 69
Composite great circle sailing means travelling between two places
by the shortest route with the restriction of not going north or south
of a limiting latitude.
P
V1 V2
A B
SAK 70
V1
or
Sin Mid Part = Cos Opposite Parts
P
A To find the longitude of V, by finding D.long

'P'
Sin Co P = Tan PV1 x Tan Co PA
Cos P = Tan PV1 / Tan PA
SAK 71
 Similarly, in the second triangle:
Cos P = Tan PV2 / Tan PB
to find the longitude of V2
SAK 72
 To find initial course A
Sin Mid Part = Cos Opposites
Sin PV1 = Cos Co A x Cos Co PA
Sin PV1 = Sin A x Sin PA
Sin A = Sin PV1 / Sin PA
SAK 73
 To find distance AV
 Sin Mid Part = Cos Opposites
 Sin Co PA = Cos PV1 x Cos AV1
 Cos PA = Cos PV1 x Cos AV1
 Cos AV1 = Cos PA / Cos PV1
SAK 74
Composite GC sailing-Example
 Find the distance from Durban to Fremantle by
composite great circle course using 35° S as the,
limiting latitude. Find also the initial and final
courses.
SAK 75
Find the distance from Durban to Fremantle by
composite great circle course using 35° S as the,
limiting latitude. Find also the initial and final
courses.
A Lat: 29 53 S Long: 31 04 E PA=60 07 PA=60.117

B Lat: 32 04 S Lonf: 115 26 E PB=57 56 PA=57.933
D.Long 84 22 E PV=55 PV=55.000
SAK 76
A Lat: 29 53 S Long: 31 04 E PA=60 07 PA=60.117
B Lat: 32 04 S Lonf: 115 26 E PB=57 56 PA=57.933
D.Long 84 22 E PV=55 PV=55.000
SAK 77
A Lat: 29 53 S Long: 31 04 E PA=60 07 PA=60.117
B Lat: 32 04 S Lonf: 115 26 E PB=57 56 PA=57.933
D.Long 84 22 E PV=55 PV=55.000
SAK 78
A Lat: 29 53 S Long: 31 04 E PA=60 07 PA=60.117
B Lat: 32 04 S Lonf: 115 26 E PB=57 56 PA=57.933
D.Long 84 22 E PV=55 PV=55.000
SAK 79
A Lat: 29 53 S Long: 31 04 E PA=60 07 PA=60.117
B Lat: 32 04 S Lonf: 115 26 E PB=57 56 PA=57.933
D.Long 84 22 E PV=55 PV=55.000
SAK 80
A Lat: 29 53 S Long: 31 04 E PA=60 07 PA=60.117
B Lat: 32 04 S Lonf: 115 26 E PB=57 56 PA=57.933
D.Long 84 22 E PV=55 PV=55.000
SAK 81
A Lat: 29 53 S Long: 31 04 E PA=60 07 PA=60.117
B Lat: 32 04 S Lonf: 115 26 E PB=57 56 PA=57.933
D.Long 84 22 E PV=55 PV=55.000
SAK 82
SAK 83
SAK 84
SAK 85
SAK 86
SAK 87
SAK 88
SAK 89

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DECK 122 (NAVIGATION-II)

Great circle sailing

GREAT CIRCLE SAILING

Lindbergh Chart of the Great

Plane passing through

Angle P=D.Long from A to B (E or W)

Side PA=Angular distance of A from the P Vn

The elevated pole

South elevated pole

South elevated pole

South elevated pole

To find final course – reciprocal of B;

Vessel is sailing from A to B

Lat B = 41° 23’ S

Lat B = 41° 23’ S

North elevated pole

AB = 122.802 To convert degress Press shift Press °’’’

Distance AB = 122.802 x 60 = 7368.1 mile.

Initial course N 120.8 E so Course = 120.8 T

Final course S 70.8 E = 109.2 T

120° 45’+ 174° 49’ = Ans

Distance = 93° 37’.1 x 60

Vertex between the start and end position

Vertex After the final Position

 Sin PV = Cos Co A x Cos Co PA

 Sin PV = Sin A x Sin PA

 Cos PA = 1 / Tan A x 1/ Tan P

 This gives us P, the D.Long between A and V, and

Cos AB = Cos 104 37x Sin 48 22 x Sin 97 24+Cos 48

Cos B= (Cos PA-CosPBxCosAB) / Sin PB x Sin AB

Tan Lat L = Cos P / Tan PV = 0.05098

PA=90- 05° 48‘N = 84° 12’

PA=90- 05° 48‘N = 84° 12’ A

To find initial course A;

PA=84° 12’ PB= 124° 26’ A

To find final course – reciprocal of B;

A To find the longitude of V, by finding D.long

A Lat: 29 53 S Long: 31 04 E PA=60 07 PA=60.117

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