Loxodrome Sailing


The following form performs the Distance (D) and Bearing (C0, C1) solutions of the loxodrome track from a current Position (L0) to a Destination (L1).
The picture on the left below will show the situation and explain the abbreviations and terms used.

Location (L0)   Destination (L1)
Latitude  N/S  dd-mm.m   Latitude  N/S dd-mm.m
Longitude  E/W ddd-mm.m   Longitude  E/W ddd-mm.m
 

 
    Distance / Bearing
sail045e_A.gif      Nm      °

D: Loxodrome Distance from L0 to L1
C0, C1: Azimuth angles under which the loxodrome track intersects with the local Meridian in L0 and L1.

The Agles C0 and C1 are measured clockwise from the northern branch of the local Meridian (true North) in L0 and L1 respectively and towards the (shortest) great-cirlce segment connecting L0 and L1. This way the resulting Azimuth angles represent true bearings. These true bearings are the constant courses to be sailed to travel from L0 to L1 (C0) or reverse (C1).


The loxodrome track gives the path between L0 and L1 with a constant course, but it is not the shortest path between two locations. The Distance-Bearing problem can also be solved for a Great-Circle track.