You are planning a voyage by great circle from Reykjavik (LAT 63°30'N, LONG 24°00'W) to the Azores (LAT 39°30'N, LONG 29°00'W). Which statement is TRUE? (Use gnomonic tracking chart WOXZC 5274)

Correct Answer: Option C — The great circle track is not appreciably shorter than a rhumb line track.

When departure and arrival positions share nearly identical latitudes across a relatively short transatlantic span, the difference between great circle and rhumb line distances is negligible. Bowditch notes that rhumb line tracks are practically identical under such meridional configurations.