Module 10 of 17
Course to steer, position fixing, waypoints, dead reckoning, and estimated position.
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Chartwork is the practical skill of plotting courses, fixing positions, and working out navigational problems on a nautical chart. It is the core of Day Skipper navigation and forms the b...
Dead Reckoning (DR) is the process of estimating your position based solely on your course steered and distance run through the water — without accounting for tidal stream or leeway. It g...
A fix is a position determined from observations — it is more reliable than a DR or EP. Common methods include: visual bearings (take compass bearings of two or three charted objects and...
The course to steer is the compass course you need to follow to make good a desired ground track, after allowing for tidal stream, leeway, and compass errors. It involves constructing a v...
A waypoint is a position defined by latitude and longitude, used to mark turning points or destinations on a passage. Modern GPS and chart plotters navigate between waypoints and display...
Leeway is the sideways drift caused by wind pushing the boat off course. A yacht sailing in strong winds will make leeway — the boat slides sideways to leeward. The amount depends on wind...
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