Course report in an old log - explanation?

[Yermun]

Ahoy! Great forum!

I am currently reading «The Log of The Cutty Sark» - and among things I cannot understand is the meaning of the last W. in this line:

«July 9–Lat. 15˚ 22´ N., long. 117˚ 35´ E. Course S. 42˚ W.»

Where is The Cutty Sark heading according to its log?

Thankful for any help.

Yermun

[El Pinguino]

Course of S42ºW is 42º west of south so a course of 180 plus 42 = 222º in 360º notation .
Sounds like she was on her way from China to London with tea.

[El Pinguino]

Oh, and welcome aboard.

That notation was something of a halfway house between the use of the 'points' system and the 360º style which only really came into vogue when gyro compasses came in to use.

If the Course steered had been S42ºE it would have been 180 - 42 = 138º

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Yermun.

[Yermun]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Course of S42ºW is 42º west of south so a course of 180 plus 42 = 222º in 360º notation .
Sounds like she was on her way from China to London with tea.

Indeed she was.

Thank you for explaining what now seems obvious, but a dumb fool like me…

[Yermun]

Many thanks for the warm welcome. Though I am afraid that for some time my contributions will have to be questions rather than answeres.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by El Pinguino

Course of S42ºW is 42º west of south so a course of 180 plus 42 = 222º in 360º notation .
Sounds like she was on her way from China to London with tea.