Lancer033 Posted March 10, 2018 Share #1 Posted March 10, 2018 I've been on a historical fiction kick for a while now, starting with the Aubrey/Maturin series and now i'm on the Thomas Kydd series. Both have been pretty educational for me and inspired me to learn more about that time period. Even got to take a trip up to Boston to see Constitution, but there is one term i haven't found a solid answer for and it's bugging me. Whenever another ship is spotted, they will say something like "3-points off the starboard bow" meaning it's in front of them and off to the right side i get, but how far is a point? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
usedtosail Posted March 10, 2018 Share #2 Posted March 10, 2018 From the Merrian Webster dictionary for point: one of the 32 equidistant spots of a compass card for indicating direction mtaylor, Lancer033, Canute and 1 other 4 Quote - Tom - Current Build: Vanguard Speedy Completed: Vanguard Duchess of Kingston, Stove Project, Ships Wheel Project, NRG Capstan Project, Billings Half Moon, Dumas Chris Craft 1938 27' Triple Cockpit Barrel Back, Panart Santa Lucia , Model Shipways Constitution , MS Bounty Launch , HMS Beagle Member: Nautical Research Guild Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malachy Posted March 10, 2018 Share #3 Posted March 10, 2018 The compass is divided into 32 points, so 3 points would be a bit less than 34 degrees. Jack12477, Lancer033, mtaylor and 1 other 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lancer033 Posted March 10, 2018 Author Share #4 Posted March 10, 2018 Thanks. The piece i was missing was the compass being divided into 32-points. I was trying to make 360-degrees work and couldn't get it to make sense. mtaylor, Jack12477 and Canute 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jud Posted March 10, 2018 Share #5 Posted March 10, 2018 (edited) 360°/32 = 11.25° or 11° 15'. Edited March 10, 2018 by jud Lancer033, Canute, paulsutcliffe and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark P Posted March 10, 2018 Share #6 Posted March 10, 2018 Hi everyone; One point that some may not be aware of: the picture posted by Jud shows what is known as a 'Compass Rose'. This was the name of the (fictional?) corvette in Nicholas Monserrat's WW11 sea novel, and it wasn't until many years after I first read it that I realised what the name meant. All the best, Mark P mtaylor and Canute 2 Quote Previously built models (long ago, aged 18-25ish) POB construction. 32 gun frigate, scratch-built sailing model, Underhill plans. 2 masted topsail schooner, Underhill plans. Started at around that time, but unfinished: 74 gun ship 'Bellona' NMM plans. POB On the drawing board: POF model of Royal Caroline 1749, part-planked with interior details. My own plans, based on Admiralty draughts and archival research. Always on the go: Research into Royal Navy sailing warship design, construction and use, from Tudor times to 1790. Member of NRG, SNR, NRS, SMS Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jud Posted March 10, 2018 Share #7 Posted March 10, 2018 That Compass Rose might be printed in reverse image, if the Lubbers Line were on the Helmsman's side of the binnacle. On the far side it would be as shown with a magnifying device set on the top glass when steering by degrees became the norm. jud Canute and mtaylor 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Lad Posted March 10, 2018 Share #8 Posted March 10, 2018 And just to be pedantic, a point is 11 1/4 degrees! John Canute, mtaylor and Tigerdvr 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
popeye2sea Posted March 11, 2018 Share #9 Posted March 11, 2018 Slightly on a side topic. A square rigger can not sail closer than about 6 points to the wind. For example, with the wind from the North the ship could sail no closer than ENE or WNW. Regards, mtaylor and Canute 2 Quote Henry Laissez le bon temps rouler ! Current Build: Le Soleil Royal Completed Build: Amerigo Vespucci Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgdawson Posted March 11, 2018 Share #10 Posted March 11, 2018 10 hours ago, probablynot said: And if you can "box the compass", you can recite all the 32 points of the compass in their correct order. When i did my ticket the examiner got me to do it backwards, in half points ! Mark jud, Canute and Mark P 3 Quote Mark D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vegaskip Posted March 11, 2018 Share #11 Posted March 11, 2018 14 hours ago, Mark P said: Hi everyone; One point that some may not be aware of: the picture posted by Jud shows what is known as a 'Compass Rose'. This was the name of the (fictional?) corvette in Nicholas Monserrat's WW11 sea novel, and it wasn't until many years after I first read it that I realised what the name meant. All the best, Mark P A very clever use of words. Remember Compass Rose was a 'Flower' Class Corvette. Jim Canute and Mark P 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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