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Lesson 2 - Direction

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A bearing is the direction between two specific objects, measured in degrees. For example, you might take a bearing from your position to a lighthouse to ensure you’re on the right course.

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Course is the direction you intend to steer your vessel. It’s your planned path.

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​​Heading is slightly different. It’s the direction your vessel is actually pointing at any given moment, which can be affected by wind, waves, or currents.

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Course Over Ground (COG):
This is the actual direction your vessel is moving across the surface of the Earth.

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Course Through Water (CTW):
This is the direction your vessel is moving relative to the water itself

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Importance of COG (Course Over Ground) and CTW (Course Through Water)

  • Safety

  • Efficiency

  • Navigation Accuracy

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Compass Errors: Variation and Deviation

  • Variation - Difference between True North and Magnetic North.

  • Deviation - Magnetic interference from objects on your vessel

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Correcting and Minimising Errors

When combining deviation and variation, it’s best to correct one at a time:

  • Start with deviation to find your magnetic heading.

  • Then adjust for variation to find your true heading.

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Types of Compass

  • Magnetic Compass: Simple, reliable, but prone to deviation.

  • Gyro Compass: Uses gyroscopic inertia to find True North. It’s independent of the magnetic field but relies on power.

  • Fluxgate Compass Uses electronic sensors to detect magnetic fields.

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Chart Plotter Tools

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