I am reading thr book "Surviving the storm" and they keep talking about following the rhombline. What is that?
Rhombline
- Thread starter Broke sailor SV Marcell
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The rhumbline is the
course on the chart that you follow from start to finish. if you are reaching then you can follow it directly but if you are beating then your tacks take you to the left and right of the line but at the end of the day you plot your progress along the rhumbline. On an ocean crossing your rhumbline would be a "great circle" route.
course on the chart that you follow from start to finish. if you are reaching then you can follow it directly but if you are beating then your tacks take you to the left and right of the line but at the end of the day you plot your progress along the rhumbline. On an ocean crossing your rhumbline would be a "great circle" route.
Not a Great Circle
From the wikipedia article on rhumb line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhumb_line): "In navigation, a rhumb line (or loxodrome) is a line crossing all meridians at the same angle, i.e. a path of constant bearing." The route would look straight on a Mercator projection map but on a globe (or the face of the earth) the route would be curved, i.e. it would NOT be the shortest distance between two points. Compare with the wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_circle
From the wikipedia article on rhumb line (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhumb_line): "In navigation, a rhumb line (or loxodrome) is a line crossing all meridians at the same angle, i.e. a path of constant bearing." The route would look straight on a Mercator projection map but on a globe (or the face of the earth) the route would be curved, i.e. it would NOT be the shortest distance between two points. Compare with the wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_circle
mostly correct
Ross is mostly correct. The rhumbline is the direct line from point A to point B. As a saiboat can not usually sail the direct line from point to point (even reaching and downwind sailors must take into account current and wind ....."set and drift")
Ross is mostly correct. The rhumbline is the direct line from point A to point B. As a saiboat can not usually sail the direct line from point to point (even reaching and downwind sailors must take into account current and wind ....."set and drift")
Keep it simple
I think the first posting (Ross) could not bave put it better. It is as simple as that.
I think the first posting (Ross) could not bave put it better. It is as simple as that.
Humor:
If you are having problems with a Rumba line, maybe you should watch Dancing with the Stars. (OK bad joke, but it was just sitting waiting to be said.)
If you are having problems with a Rumba line, maybe you should watch Dancing with the Stars. (OK bad joke, but it was just sitting waiting to be said.)
thanks, Eric
for a very concise and accurate answer to the question "what is a rhumb line?" I myself appreciate knowing how a "great circle route" differs from a "rhumb line" and I can also appreciate someone taking the time to research and validate his response. Ross, must you be so petulant?
for a very concise and accurate answer to the question "what is a rhumb line?" I myself appreciate knowing how a "great circle route" differs from a "rhumb line" and I can also appreciate someone taking the time to research and validate his response. Ross, must you be so petulant?
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