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Subject: Re: Meridional Distances
From: Paul Hirose (paulhirose@XXX.XXX)
Date: Wed Sep 18 2002 - 14:23:53 EDT
Vic Fraenckel wrote:
> If you know the latitude and longitude of your departure and arrival points
> why not just calculate the ellipsoidal azimuth and distance from one to the
> other directly?
The calculated course would be difficult to steer because the required
heading changes continuously throughout the voyage. Mercator methods
give a rhumb line, much easier for a sailor to follow. Besides, they
are practical without electronics, so are closer to the spirit of this
list. I suspect your suggestion would be too much for a navigator to
handle without electronic help.
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