| When two sailboats meet there are three rules to | | | | figuring out what course to steer by your |
| follow: | | | | compass. This especially applies to the small boat |
| 1. The boat on the port tack gives way to the | | | | sailor who won't be using a mounted compass |
| boat on the starboard tack. 2. When on the same | | | | with magnets. |
| tack, the windward boat gives way to the | | | | Variation |
| leeward boat. 3. The overtaking vessel keeps | | | | Often you will be given a course to steer from |
| clear of the slower vessel. | | | | one place to another in true directions. This means |
| Piloting- Deviation and Variation | | | | that you will have to convert this to magnetic in |
| There are two types of Poles; the Geographic | | | | order to steer this course with your compass. |
| North and South Poles, also called True North and | | | | There is a very consistent and simple rule to |
| True South, and the Magnetic North and South | | | | follow when going from true to magnetic. In the |
| Poles. The Geographic poles are stationary. The | | | | Eastern US and Canada, to go from a true course |
| earth is a big magnet with magnetic lines of force | | | | to a magnetic course, you add a west variation. |
| running from the magnetic north pole to the | | | | To go from a magnetic course to a true course, |
| magnetic south pole. The magnetic pole is located | | | | you subtract a west variation. In the Western US |
| in northern Canada; somewhat west of the | | | | and Canada, to go from a true course to a |
| Geographic Pole. It's location changes over long | | | | magnetic course, you subtract an east variation |
| periods of time. | | | | To go from a magnetic course to a true course, |
| Variation is the angle between the magnetic north | | | | you add an east variation. |
| and the true north. This is indicated by a compass | | | | Sailing Terms |
| when it is free of any nearby magnetic influences. | | | | Piloting-Navigation performed using visual |
| A magnetized pointer, or needle, that is allowed to | | | | references such as aids to navigation. |
| spin freely, will point to the magnetic north pole. | | | | Aids to Navigation-Established markers on land or |
| On a boat compass, this needle is situated in the | | | | sea that aid sailors to avoid danger and fix their |
| middle of a ring which shows 360 degrees. Now | | | | position. |
| matter in which direction the boat heads, the | | | | Bearing-The direction of an object to an observer, |
| compass still points to Magnetic North. | | | | such as a buoy or other boat. Chart-A nautical |
| Deviation | | | | map. |
| Boats with lots of metal have their own magnetic | | | | Demarcation-Boundary. |
| fields and the compass may respond to it and be | | | | Nun- A buoy that is not lit but numbered, red and |
| pulled somewhat away from the direction of | | | | pointed, and always on the starboard side when |
| magnetic north. When this happens, it is called | | | | returning from seaward, port side when going out. |
| compass deviation and needs to be compensated | | | | Can- A buoy that is not lit but numbered, green |
| for. This can be done by installing small internal | | | | and flat, and always on the port side when |
| magnets in the compass, or, you can make up a | | | | returning from seaward, starboard side when |
| deviation chart for your boat and refer to it when | | | | going out. |