Course

The heading is the direction considered in the plane of the horizon and, mainly, any of those included in the meridian. Precisely the word comes from the Latin rhombus ('rhombus'), which are the geometric shapes that together indicate the different possible directions in the wind rose.

Heading is also the direction in which we move or navigate, or in which we head or look and is usually expressed in the form of the angle that this direction forms with another taken as a reference. Depending on whether this reference direction is the terrestrial meridian that passes through the position in which we find ourselves or the direction in which the magnetic compass points, we will speak of geographic heading or magnetic heading >.

Nautical

Scheme of Rvp, Rm and Rc.

In navigation, the heading is defined as the angle measured in the horizontal plane between north and the ship's direction of advance, measured in a circle, that is, from 0º to 360º. Heading is always expressed as three digits with leading zeros added if necessary. Thus, when saying "course 028º" errors of interpretation are avoided, avoiding confusion with heading 128º or 228º. Previously the course was expressed "in quadrantal", by reference to a quadrant of the nautical rose: "course S 30º E" means 30 degrees east from south, which is equivalent to a circular heading 150°.

On navigation charts, the main directions are represented by the nautical rose, made up of 32 diamonds (deformed) united in the center, whose outer points indicate the direction on the circle of the horizon. On it, from the 17th century, the fleur de lis that points to the North is represented. The average intensity of the wind in the different sectors into which the circle of the horizon is divided is also represented.

In sailing there are several courses:

• Needle Rum (Ra): the course marked by the nautical needle. It is not the true course, as it affects the magnetic decline and the deviation of needle.
• Magnetic wheel (Rm): the course regarding the magnetic north, that is, the course marked by a needle that has no deviation.
• True Rumbo (Rv) or proa: it is the course that marks the line of crusty of the ship with respect to the true or geographical north.
• Surface (Rs): it is the course of advance of a ship for the effect of the collapse, that is, because a wind deviates it from the true course.
• Effective Rumbo (Ref): is the course of advance of the ship subject to the effect of the drift, that is, when it affects a current.
• Rumbo of the current (Rc): is the course of a current of water regarding the true north.

Conversions

To convert a heading to an azimuth, you first need to know the magnetic declination. In this way, if the magnetic declination is to the East, then the azimuth will be the heading plus the magnetic declination (Az = Rm+Dm), on the other hand, if the magnetic declination is to the west, then the azimuth is equal to the heading minus the magnetic declination (Az = Rm-Dm). To facilitate the equations and use only one, the equation where the azimuth is the heading plus the magnetic declination is used, taking into account the sign convention where East is positive and West is negative. Example: I need to find the azimuth at a point where the heading is 60° and the magnetic declination is 5°West (-5°). Using the formula: Az = Rm+Dm = 60° + (-5°) = 55°

Related expressions

• Needle Rum: each of the thirty-two pointed in the nautical rose and also the one that according to it or without correcting of variation has followed the ship or is given by the collapse of a coast or between two objects.
• Rumbo of the World: any of those considered in the balloon towards the four cardinal points and their intermediates.
• Fixed wheel or true: the one that is supposed to be made by any of the world or the corrected of the variation of the needle and the abatement of the ship.
• Direct dial: the one between the point of departure and the point of arrival without the different intermediates that has been forced to do in the journey because of the variety of the winds or as if it had only been followed. His name is estimated when your deduction or inquiry comes from the estimate account. The one following the orthodomic curve is a direct course.
• Rumbo obliqueo: any of the intermediates between which follow the direction of the four cardinal points or the one that makes the boat that navigates the loxodromia. It is also said that he takes the one who persecutes another in certain circumstances without addressing her to reach her sooner.
• False Rumbo: the one who departs from the proper defeat and is adopted in the sight of another ship to whom he wants to deceive.
• Rumbo de bolina: any of the two that form with the direction of the wind an angle of six quarters or sixty-seven and a half degrees on each side.
• Rumbo franc: the one that leads to the ship free of any bass or other danger.
• Give way: to serve as a guide in all movements or alterations in the defeat of the other vessels that go in conserve and also to exercise the one that commands the action of his authority and to indicate or point out the course to be followed.
• Make way: get to sail with direction to the particular point and to do so it is to name the one that takes at the time or to determine the one to follow.
• Be, go, sail, rule or get on course: follow the one who agrees to defeat or put himself on.
• Set the course: correct a wrong course.
• Correct course: reduce to true the one that has been done by the indication of the needle, adding or subtracting the variation of it according to the cases and in combination cou the abatement when there is.
• Meter on such a course: direct the bow to the proposed by praying or arriving what is necessary even if in this case the insert is more generally understood by praying or by closing the angle of the course with the direction to which some object delays.
• Open course: enlarge the angle that this form with the visual to an object and also the one that the same course is worth or the one that until it is counted from the north-south line. Contrary operations are meant by the phrase Close the course. In another sense and with another expression, open a course it is understood to lift a board in the hull of the ship.
• Take the course: declining your direction to sotavento arriving for it as necessary or sufficient at the proposed end.
• Cross, cross or cut course. Take and follow a course that approximates everything possible to the one to be made and at the same time provides a position that defends against the great sea and wind. The phrase between sea and sea, expresses the same manoeuvre but taking advantage of it to run the intervals between blow and sea blow in order to gain more towards the right course.
• Lose course: to stray from defeat and ignore the whereabouts of the ship.
• Hurt the course:Take or put a ship during the night to another course other than the one that has followed in the day to escape from the superior enemy who pursues it.
• Echar or Take a course: adjust, place and stick in place the board or piece of board raised on the ship's hull for any reason.
• On course!: commanding voice to the helmmonel to rule the one who has been appointed.
• A course of pipe: mod. adv. with which a return or curvity similar to that of the duels of the pipes is noted.