The Compass on a Sailboat: How to Use a Marine Compass and Why Sailors Need It

The compass – an instrument familiar to everyone since school. A simple magnetic needle, persistently pointing North. It seems, what could be simpler or more commonplace? But when this familiar tool finds itself on board a sailboat, a whole world of nuances opens up that many don't even consider. Is a marine compass really as simple as its land-based counterpart we took on hikes? Why do experienced skippers still respect this ancient device in the era of satellite navigation? And what secrets does it hold, being not just a direction indicator, but a key to safety and confident sailing in the open sea? This article is an invitation to look deeper into the world where the compass on a sailboat is used. We will tell you how it differs from the familiar tourist gadget, the journey it has taken from a simple floating magnet to a high-precision navigation instrument, and why knowing how to use it is not an archaic skill, but the foundation of any captain's mastery. Perhaps you will look at this "ordinary" instrument in a new light and realize that knowing its secrets is an important step towards your dream of independent and safe sea voyages.

Understanding how to use a marine compass opens the door to safe and confident sailing.

Not Just a Needle to North: How a Marine Compass Differs from a Hiking Compass

Many of us are familiar with hiking compasses – lightweight, compact devices that help us not get lost in the forest or mountains. However, a marine compass, installed on a sailboat, is an instrument of a completely different class, designed to operate in much more complex and dynamic conditions. Their differences are due to the specifics of the marine environment and the requirements for accuracy and reliability in navigation.

Globally, the difference between a hiking compass and a marine compass is that the magnetic needle of a hiking compass shows us the North-South direction, while a marine compass, or as it is also called a yacht compass, shows the course, that is, the direction of the vessel's movement relative to the cardinal points.

Here are the key differences between a marine compass and a hiking compass:

1. Construction and Stability to Rolling:

   • Marine Compass: Has a massive bowl, often filled with a special damping fluid (a mixture of alcohol and water or oil). This fluid dampens the oscillations of the compass card (the dial with the scale) during rolling, making readings stable. The card itself is balanced and mounted on an axis or pivot with minimal friction. A crucial feature of a classic marine compass is the gimbal system – a system of one or two rings that allows the compass bowl to remain horizontal even with significant inclinations of the sailboat (heel and trim). This is critically important for accurate readings. However, in modern sailboat models, the same effect is achieved due to the compass card seemingly floating in a special liquid inside a sphere, thus easily adopting a horizontal position at any heel of the sailboat.
   • Hiking Compass: Usually has a lightweight plastic case and a simple magnetic needle. It is not designed for strong and prolonged rolling and may give inaccurate readings when tilted.

2. Lubber Line:

   • Marine Compass: Always equipped with a lubber line – a fixed vertical mark on the inside of the bowl, indicating the sailboat's current course. The helmsman keeps the desired card division aligned with this line.
   • Hiking Compass: Instead of a lubber line, it usually uses alignment of the needle with the direction to an object or marks on the body to determine azimuth.

3. Card Size and Precision:

   • Marine Compass: The compass card is typically larger in diameter with clear divisions to 360 degrees, often with a scale value of 1° or 2°. This allows for reading the course with high precision.
   • Hiking Compass: The compass card (or just the needle) is smaller, and divisions may be coarser. The precision is sufficient for land orientation but not always for marine navigation.

4. Lighting:

   • Marine Compass: Almost all fixed marine compasses have built-in lighting (usually red for preserving night vision) for reading at night.
   • Hiking Compass: Lighting is rare; luminous marks are more commonly used.

5. Deviation Compensation:

   • Marine Compass: Often has built-in or externally mounted compensating magnets (deviation compensators) to eliminate the influence of the vessel's own magnetic field.
   • Hiking Compass: Does not have means of deviation compensation, as it is intended for use away from large metal objects.

6. Durability and Materials:

   • Marine Compass: Made of strong, corrosion-resistant materials (brass, bronze, high-quality plastic) capable of withstanding the aggressive effects of the marine environment (salt water, UV radiation, temperature changes).
   • Hiking Compass: Usually made of lightweight plastic, less resistant to harsh conditions.

Understanding these differences is important not only for general knowledge but also for realizing why such a more complex and expensive instrument is used on a sailboat. Mastering how a real marine compass works and how the compass is used on a sailboat is part of the professional training for any skipper, which you can undertake at Navi.training, where theory and practice are given equal attention.

From Floating Magnet to High-Precision Instrument: The History of the Marine Compass

The history of the marine compass is a fascinating journey through centuries, reflecting humanity's desire to explore the world and conquer the seas. The instrument we see today on sailboats is the result of centuries of evolution and the ingenuity of many minds.

Early Discoveries and the "Wet" Compass (Ancient China and the Middle Ages)

It is believed that the property of a magnet to indicate direction was known in Ancient China, possibly as early as the 2nd century BC. Early compasses were a magnetized piece of iron (often in the shape of a fish or spoon) that floated in a bowl of water, or a needle mounted on a cork. Such "wet" compasses were imperfect: the needle stuck to the sides of the bowl, and water splashed out during rolling.

Knowledge of the compass likely reached Europe through the Arabs in the 12th-13th centuries. Sailors in the Mediterranean and Northern Europe began to use a magnetic needle threaded through a straw and also floating in water. Mentions of such an instrument are found in Alexander Neckam (1187) and Guiot de Provins (around 1205).

Appearance of the "Dry" Compass and Compass Card (13th-14th Centuries)

A significant step forward was the invention of the "dry" compass. The magnetic needle was fixed on an axis, allowing it to rotate more freely. The most important improvement was the appearance of the compass card – a disk attached to the magnetic needle and divided into points (originally 8 or 16, later 32). Now the sailor could directly read the vessel's course. The invention of the compass card is attributed to the Italian Flavio Gioia of Amalfi (early 14th century), although this is disputed by some historians. A compass rose also began to be depicted on the card.

Improvements in the Age of Discovery (15th-17th Centuries)

In the Age of Discovery, the compass became an indispensable navigation tool. The first attempts to account for magnetic variation appeared. Christopher Columbus, during his voyage in 1492, noticed that the compass needle deviated from the North Star (i.e., from true North), and this deviation changed with longitude.

To reduce the influence of rolling, the compass was placed in a gimbal suspension, allowing the bowl to remain horizontal.

Scientific Approach and the Fight Against Deviation (18th-19th Centuries)

With the development of science and metallurgy (the appearance of iron and steel ships), the problem of deviation – the influence of the ship's own magnetic field on the compass readings – became acute.

• The English scientist Gowin Knight in the mid-18th century proposed improved magnetic needles and methods for magnetizing them.
• Matthew Flinders in the early 19th century developed the Flinders bar – a vertical bar of soft iron, installed near the compass to compensate for the vertical component of the ship's magnetism.
• Lord Kelvin (William Thomson) made an enormous contribution to the improvement of the marine compass in the second half of the 19th century. His compass had a lightweight card with eight short parallel magnetic needles, which reduced friction and the period of its natural oscillations. He also developed a deviation compensation system using permanent magnets and soft iron spheres (Kelvin spheres) placed on the sides of the binnacle. Kelvin's compass remained the standard for marine vessels for many years.

20th Century and Modern Compasses

In the 20th century, the improvement of materials and designs continued. Liquid compasses with improved damping appeared. The development of electronics led to the creation of gyrocompasses (independent of the Earth's magnetic field) and electronic magnetic compasses (fluxgate compasses), which are widely used today, including for autopilot control.

Despite the emergence of GPS and other satellite systems, the classic magnetic compass remains mandatory equipment on any vessel as a reliable and power-independent instrument. Its history is a history of maritime discoveries, scientific development, and human ingenuity. By studying it at Navi.training, you get to touch this rich history.

The Heart of the Sailboat, Pointing the Way: Understanding the Steering Compass and Hand Bearing Compass

A magnetic compass, though seemingly a simple instrument, has an interesting design, understanding which helps to use it better. On sailboats, two main types of sailing yachts of magnetic compasses are most often found: the steering compass (main) and the hand bearing compass. It is worth noting that while modern hand bearing compasses are indeed compact devices, their predecessors, fixed peloruses or azimuth compasses, installed on the main compass binnacle or on a separate stand, could be quite substantial instruments designed for precise bearing determination.

Steering Compass (Main Steering Compass)

This is the primary compass, permanently installed, usually in front of the helm or tiller, so that the helmsman can easily read its indications. Its design is intended to ensure stable readings even when rolling.

• Compass Card: This is a disk marked with divisions in degrees (from 0° to 360°) and often the main cardinal points (N, E, S, W and intermediates). The card is balanced and mounted on a special pivot or axis so that it can rotate freely. One or more permanent magnets (magnetic needles) are attached under the card, which orient it according to the Earth's magnetic field.
• Compass Bowl: This is a sealed container in which the compass card is located. The bowl is usually filled with a special liquid (a mixture of alcohol and distilled water or a special oil). The liquid performs several functions:
  • Damping: Calms the oscillations of the compass card during rolling, making readings more stable.
  • Reducing Friction: Reduces friction of the compass card's axis, increasing its sensitivity.
  • Supporting the Card: Sometimes the liquid helps support the weight of the compass card, reducing the load on the axis.
• Lubber Line: This is a vertical line or mark applied to the inner side of the compass bowl towards the bow of the sailboat. The lubber line is fixed relative to the sailboat and indicates the vessel's current compass course. That is, the division on the compass card that aligns with the lubber line is your compass course.
• Binnacle: On larger sailboats, the steering compass may be mounted in a binnacle – a special stand or casing that protects the compass and often contains correcting magnets for deviation compensation (more on that later).
• Lighting: For use in the dark, most steering compasses have compass card lighting.

Hand Bearing Compass

This is a portable compass used to determine directions (bearings) to various objects: lighthouses, shore landmarks, other vessels. It is more compact and often has a prismatic system or a special sight for accurate readings. Liquid damping also helps stabilize the compass card.

All magnetic compasses operate on the principle of interaction between their magnetic elements and the Earth's magnetic field. The compass's magnetic needles align along the lines of force of this field, pointing towards the Earth's magnetic north pole. It is important to remember that the magnetic pole does not coincide with the geographical (true) north pole, and this difference, called magnetic variation, must be taken into account in navigation. We will discuss variation and deviation in more detail in the following sections.

Understanding the compass's design is the first step towards confident use. In practical classes at Navi.training, you will not only learn to read compass readings but also understand how it reacts to the sailboat's movements, how to apply various corrections, and use it for plotting a course and determining your position. This knowledge provides confidence, especially when electronic aids are silent.

The Language of the Compass: Degrees, Points, and How to Read Them

To master the language of the compass means learning to understand its readings and use them for navigation. It seems complex, but it is actually logical and consistent.

Degree System

Modern compasses, including those for sailboats, have a compass card divided into 360 degrees (°). Readings are taken clockwise, starting from North (N), which corresponds to 0° or 360°.

• North (N): 0° or 360°
• East (E): 90°
• South (S): 180°
• West (W): 270°

Between these main directions are intermediate ones:

• North-East (NE): 45°
• South-East (SE): 135°
• South-West (SW): 225°
• North-West (NW): 315°

These eight directions are called cardinal points.

Quarter Points and Finer Divisions

For greater accuracy, the circle is further divided. Between the cardinal points are quarter points, for example:

• North-North-East (NNE): 22.5° (between N and NE)
• East-North-East (ENE): 67.5° (between NE and E)
• And so on, a total of 16 quarter points.

In old times, a more fractional, 32-point system was also used, but today in practical sailboat navigation, degrees are most often used, as this provides the greatest accuracy. The compass card usually has numerical marks every 5°, 10°, or 30°, as well as finer divisions, allowing the course to be read with accuracy down to the degree.

How to Read a Steering Compass

As we already mentioned, the steering compass has a lubber line. This is a fixed mark that always indicates the direction of your sailboat's bow. To find your current compass course, you simply need to see which value on the rotating card aligns with this lubber line.

For example, if the lubber line points to 90° on the card, your sailboat is heading East on a compass course. If it points to 225°, then Southwest.

Accuracy and Reading Conditions

• Stability: Try to take readings when the sailboat is relatively steady, without strong rolling or sharp turns. The fluid in the compass smooths out oscillations, but in heavy seas, the compass card can still "wander."
• Lighting: In the dark, use the compass lighting. Red lighting is preferable as it less disturbs night vision.
• Absence of Interference: Ensure there are no metal objects (tools, mobile phones, keys) or active electrical appliances near the compass that could cause deviation – the deflection of the compass needle from the magnetic meridian due to the vessel's own magnetic field.

Learning the language of the compass is like learning the alphabet before reading an exciting book about sea adventures. At Navi.training courses, you will gain not only theoretical knowledge but also plenty of practice, including night outings, when the ability to quickly and accurately read compass indications becomes especially important. This is the fundamental skill that transforms a mere passenger into a confident helmsman.

Holding the Course: How to Steer a Sailboat by Compass

The ability to steer a sailboat on a given compass course is one of the key skills for any skipper. It's not just a technical action, but a true art that requires attention, feel for the vessel, and an understanding of how the sailboat reacts to wind and waves.

The Process of Holding Course

1. Know your course: First and foremost, you need to know what compass course you should be following. This course can be taken from a navigation plan, calculated from a chart, or given by an instructor.
2. Align the lubber line with the desired value: Your task as helmsman is to steer the sailboat so that the lubber line on the compass constantly points to the desired degree value on the compass card.
3. Smooth steering: Avoid sudden movements of the helm or tiller. Course corrections should be small and smooth. The sailboat has inertia, and excessive steering is not only tiring but also slows the vessel down, as the working rudder creates additional drag.
4. Horizon reference (if possible): If you are sailing during the day in good visibility, it is useful to choose a distant landmark on the horizon (e.g., a mountain, a cloud of a certain shape, a distant vessel) that corresponds to your course. Periodically check with the compass, but try to steer the sailboat by orienting on this distant object. This helps avoid constantly "hanging" over the compass and allows you to better feel the sailboat and the surroundings.
5. Account for external factors: Remember that wind and waves will constantly try to push you off course.
   • Wind: When sailing under sail, changes in wind strength or direction will affect the sailboat's behavior and require rudder correction.
   • Waves: Waves can yaw the sailboat. Sometimes you have to "steer into" a wave a little to maintain the general direction.
   • Drift and leeway: Crosswind and current can cause the sailboat to drift (leeway). The compass will show where the sailboat's bow is pointing (its heading), but the sailboat's true path over the ground (course over ground) may differ. These are more complex aspects of navigation, which are covered in detail in skipper courses.

Practical tips for holding course

• Look ahead: Most of the time, look ahead at the waves, sails, other vessels, and the horizon. Glance at the compass periodically for control.
• Anticipation: Learn to anticipate how the sailboat will react to an approaching wave or gust of wind, and make subtle, barely noticeable preemptive rudder corrections.
• Don't "fight" the sailboat: If the sailboat constantly tries to go off course to one side (e.g., strongly points into the wind), this could be a sign of incorrect sail trim or vessel imbalance. Instead of constantly "overpowering" it with the rudder, it's better to try to eliminate the cause.
• Average course: In conditions of heavy seas or gusty winds, the compass card may oscillate. In such cases, try to maintain an average value of the set course, without trying to hold the needle perfectly accurately on every degree.
• Practice, practice, and more practice: Confident course holding by compass comes with experience. Practical sessions on the water, including night outings, which are part of the Navi.training program, allow you to polish this skill to automatism. At night, when visual landmarks are scarce, the compass becomes your main guide.

Steering a sailboat by compass is a meditative process. It requires concentration, but in return, it gives a deep connection with the vessel and the sea. This is the foundation of safety and independence in any situation, especially when modern technologies fail.

Secrets of the Magnetic Needle: Magnetic Variation and Compass Deviation Explained Simply

For a compass to become a truly reliable instrument, it's not enough to simply know how to read its indications. One must understand that its needle does not point to the geographic (true) North, but to the magnetic North, and that its readings can be influenced by various factors. The two main "culprits" of such deviations are magnetic variation and compass deviation. Let's understand them without unnecessary complexity.

Magnetic Variation (Declination)

As we already know, the Earth is a large magnet. It has geographical poles (points through which the Earth's axis of rotation passes) and magnetic poles. And here lies the first mystery: the geographic North Pole and the magnetic North Pole are not the same point! The magnetic pole constantly "drifts" a little.

Magnetic variation (designated D or Var) is the angle between the direction to true (geographic) North and the direction to magnetic North at a given point on the Earth's surface. Variation can be:

• Easterly (E): if the compass magnetic needle deflects to the east of true North.
• Westerly (W): if the compass magnetic needle deflects to the west of true North.

The magnitude and direction of magnetic variation differ for various points on Earth and, moreover, slowly change over time. This information (the value of variation and its annual change) is always indicated on marine navigation charts, usually on the compass rose or in special notes. For accurate navigation, especially when working with a paper chart, it is necessary to consider the variation to convert compass courses to true and vice versa. The current value of magnetic variation for any point in the world can be found using special online calculators, for example, on the website of the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).

Deviation

The second "problem" for accurate compass readings is deviation (designated d or Dev). Deviation is the deflection of the compass magnetic needle from the direction of the magnetic meridian, caused by the influence of the sailboat's own magnetic field.

Where does a sailboat get its own magnetic field? It is created by:

• Metal parts of the hull and equipment: steel keel, engine, anchors, winches, gas cylinders, etc.
• Electrical equipment and wiring: active electrical appliances, generators, radio stations create electromagnetic fields.
• Cargo: if there is any magnetic cargo on board (although for recreational sailboats this is rare).

Deviation is a tricky thing. It is not constant and depends on the sailboat's own heading. That is, the deviation will be different on different sailboat headings. For example, if the sailboat's bow is pointing North, the deviation might be +2° (easterly), but if it's pointing East, it might be -3° (westerly).

How to Deal with Deviation?

1. Correct compass installation: The compass should be installed as far as possible from sources of magnetic interference.
2. Compensation of deviation (Swinging the compass): This is the process of adjusting the compass using special compensating magnets (usually small bars of soft iron and permanent magnets), which are placed near the compass to minimize deviation. This procedure is performed by specialists.
3. Deviation table: Even after compensation, residual deviation usually remains. To account for it, a deviation table is compiled, which indicates the deviation values for different sailboat headings (usually every 10-15 degrees). This table should always be at hand for the navigator.

At Navi.training courses, future skippers learn not only the theoretical foundations of variation and deviation but also practical methods for accounting for them when plotting a course and determining the vessel's position. Understanding these corrections is critically important for safe navigation, especially when relying on a magnetic compass as the primary instrument. These are the "details" that distinguish a knowledgeable captain from an inexperienced novice. This is where you will learn how to use a marine compass in a variety of conditions.

Taking a Bearing on a Sailboat: The Compass as a Direction-Finding Tool

In addition to holding a sailboat on a set course, the compass performs another crucial navigation function – it allows you to determine directions to various objects, that is, to take bearings. The ability to quickly and accurately take a bearing on a sailboat and plot it on a chart is the absolute basis of classic navigation.

What is a bearing?

A Bearing is the angle between the direction to North (true, magnetic, or compass) and the direction to the observed object, measured clockwise from 0° to 360°. Simply put, it's the course you would need to steer to go directly to that object.

Depending on which North is used as the starting direction, we distinguish between:

• True Bearing (TB): The angle between the direction to true North and the direction to the object.
• Magnetic Bearing (MB): The angle between the direction to magnetic North and the direction to the object.
• Compass Bearing (CB): The angle measured directly by the sailboat's compass relative to its lubber line or with a bearing compass. This is what we get in practice.

For navigation calculations, the compass bearing is then converted to a true bearing, taking into account compass deviation and magnetic variation.

How to take a bearing?

There are several ways to take a bearing on a sailboat:

1. Using the steering compass (approximately):

   • Point the sailboat's bow directly at the observed object.
   • Read the course on the steering compass. This will be the approximate compass bearing to the object. This method is not very accurate, as it requires maneuvering the sailboat and is difficult for quickly determining directions to several objects.

2. Using a hand bearing compass: This is the most accurate and convenient method.

   • Hold the hand bearing compass.
   • Point it at the selected object so that the object is visible through the compass's sighting device (front sight, rear sight, prism).
   • At the same time, read the degree value on the compass card that aligns with the sighting line. This is the compass bearing to the object.

3. Using a special bearing device attached to the steering compass: Some steering compasses are equipped with a removable or integrated bearing device (an azimuth circle with sights). The process is similar to using a hand bearing compass.

Why are bearings needed?

The ability to take bearings opens up many opportunities for navigation:

• Determining the sailboat's position (Line of Position, LOP):

  • By two bearings: By taking bearings to two known objects plotted on the chart (e.g., a lighthouse and a headland), and plotting these bearings on the chart (as lines extending from these objects at the corresponding angles), you will find their intersection point. This point will be your position. For greater accuracy, the objects should be at an angle close to 90° to each other.
  • By three bearings: For even greater accuracy, take bearings to three objects. On the chart, these three lines usually form a small triangle (triangle of error), within which the sailboat is located.
  • Running Fix: If only one landmark is visible, you can determine your position by taking two bearings to it at a certain time interval and knowing the distance traveled and course steered during that time.

• Monitoring anchorages: By taking bearings to several shore landmarks after anchoring and periodically checking them, you can monitor whether the sailboat is dragging anchor. Want to learn more about anchoring a yacht?

• Identifying dangerous sectors and safe courses: For example, a bearing to a hazard (rock, shoal) helps you understand if you are in a safe sector.

• Detecting other vessels and preventing collisions: If the bearing to an approaching vessel does not change, and the distance is decreasing, this is a sure sign of collision danger.

In practical classes at Navi.training, you will learn to quickly and accurately take bearings, work with the deviation table, convert compass bearings to true bearings, and plot them on a chart. These skills are indispensable for classic navigation and are the foundation of safety at sea, especially when you decide to sail independently far from familiar shores.

Compass and Chart: Fundamentals of Classic Navigation and Plotting a Course by Compass

Even if your sailboat is equipped with the most modern chartplotter, the ability to work with a paper marine chart and a compass is not just a tribute to tradition, but a vital necessity for any competent skipper. This skill provides navigational independence and a deep understanding of the surrounding environment.

Marine Navigation Chart

A marine chart is not just a diagram of an area; it's a highly detailed document containing all the necessary information for safe sailing:

• Depths: Indicated by numbers (in meters, feet, or fathoms – the unit of measurement is always specified on the chart) and often highlighted by isobaths (lines of equal depths) and color shading.
• Navigational Hazards: Rocks, shoals, wrecks, submarine cables, and pipelines.
• Aids to Navigation (AtoN): Lighthouses, buoys, marks, their characteristics (color, shape, light characteristics, sound signals).
• Coastline: Its contours, prominent headlands, bays, river mouths.
• Nature of the Bottom: Important for choosing an anchorage.
• Magnetic Variation: Indicated on the compass rose or in special chart notes, including its annual change.
• Chart Scale: Allows for measuring distances.
• Coordinate Grids: Lines of latitude and longitude for determining precise position.

Plotting a Course by Compass

One of the main tasks when working with a chart and compass is plotting a course by compass, i.e., determining the direction of travel from one point to another.

1. Determine True Course (TC): On the chart, connect the start and end points of your route with a straight line. Using a parallel ruler or protractor, measure the angle of this line relative to the nearest meridian (direction to true North). This will be your true course.
2. Account for Magnetic Variation: Take the magnetic variation (Var) value for your area from the chart.
   • If the variation is easterly (E), then Magnetic Course (MC) = TC – Var.
   • If the variation is westerly (W), then MC = TC + Var.
3. Account for Deviation: Take the deviation (Dev) value for the calculated magnetic course from your compass's deviation table.
   • If the deviation is easterly (E), then Compass Course (CC) = MC – Dev.
   • If the deviation is westerly (W), then CC = MC + Dev. The resulting compass course is the course you should hold using your steering compass.

Determining Vessel's Position (Fix)

Classic methods of determining a vessel's position using a compass and chart include:

• By two or three bearings to known landmarks: As we discussed earlier, by taking compass bearings to lighthouses, headlands, or other objects plotted on the chart, converting them to true bearings, and plotting them on the chart, you will find your position at the intersection point of the bearing lines.
• By bearing and distance: If you know the bearing to an object and its distance (e.g., measured by radar or visually), you can determine your position.
• Running Fix: Determining position by two time-separated bearings to the same landmark, taking into account the distance and course sailed by the sailboat between the bearings.
• By horizontal angles between three objects: Measured with a sextant and plotted on a chart using a protractor.

Dead Reckoning (DR)

When it's not possible to precisely determine your position (e.g., in fog or far from shore), dead reckoning is used. This is a method of determining the sailboat's estimated position based on its last known accurate position, course steered, speed, and time. It's important to consider any possible leeway caused by current and wind (drift). The dead reckoning position is regularly plotted on the chart.

Working with a compass and chart requires accuracy, attention, and practice. It's not just a mechanical execution of calculations, but a creative process that develops maritime thinking. At Navi.training courses, you will gain all the necessary theoretical knowledge and, more importantly, practice these skills under the guidance of experienced instructors. You will learn to "read" a chart, confidently use a compass, plot a course, and determine your position in various conditions, including during our unique daytime and nighttime practical sessions. This will give you the navigational literacy that is the key to safety and confidence in any voyage.

Electronic Course Keeper: What You Need to Know About Electronic Compasses for Sailboats and Autopilots

Along with classic magnetic compasses, modern sailboats are increasingly equipped with electronic compasses. These devices not only duplicate but also expand the capabilities of their magnetic counterparts, and are tightly integrated with other onboard systems, primarily autopilots.

How do electronic compasses work?

There are several types of electronic compasses, but fluxgate compasses are the most common on sailboats.

• Fluxgate Compass: Its main element is a sensor consisting of two or more coils wound on a core of special high-permeability magnetic material. This sensor measures the components of the Earth's magnetic field. An electronic circuit processes the signals from the sensor and calculates the direction to magnetic North. Course data is displayed on a digital screen or transmitted to other navigation systems.

Advantages of fluxgate compasses: * No moving parts (compass card), making them less sensitive to vibrations and shocks. * Ability to install the sensor in a remote location, protected from magnetic interference, and the display in a convenient location for the helmsman. * Easy integration with other electronics (chartplotters, autopilots, multifunction displays). * Often have an automatic deviation compensation function (after a calibration procedure).

Some modern systems may use data from GPS compasses (or satellite compasses), which determine the vessel's heading based on signals from several GPS antennas, spaced out on board. They determine true course and are not subject to magnetic variation and deviation, but are dependent on the GPS system and power supply.

Electronic Compass and Autopilot

The electronic compass is the "eyes and ears" of the autopilot. An autopilot is a system that automatically keeps the sailboat on a set course. For this, it needs accurate and stable data on the vessel's current course, which the electronic compass provides.

The autopilot receives information from the compass about deviations from the set course and, using an actuator (electric or hydraulic drive), acts on the steering system, returning the sailboat to course. Modern autopilots can also take into account data on speed, wind, and sea conditions for more precise and economical steering.

Do you need to account for variation and deviation for electronic compasses?

• Magnetic Variation: A fluxgate compass, like a regular magnetic compass, measures the direction to magnetic North. Therefore, to obtain the true course, magnetic variation must be taken into account. However, many modern navigation systems (chartplotters, multifunction displays), when receiving data from a fluxgate compass, can automatically correct for variation if its value is entered (manually or from a database). GPS compasses immediately provide a true course.
• Deviation: Fluxgate compasses are also subject to deviation if their sensor is installed near sources of magnetic interference. Most of them have a calibration procedure (often called "swinging" or "compensation"), during which the sailboat performs several full turns, and the compass electronics analyze changes in readings and calculate deviation corrections for different headings, storing them in memory. After proper calibration, the electronic compass outputs an already corrected magnetic course (or can be configured to output true course if it receives variation data).

Importance of Calibration

For the correct operation of the electronic compass and, consequently, the autopilot, proper and regular calibration (deviation compensation) is critically important. This procedure should be performed:

• After installing the compass.
• After installing new equipment on the sailboat that may create magnetic interference (engine, generator, large metal objects).
• Periodically, to check accuracy.

Despite the "intelligence" of electronic systems, understanding the principles of their operation and the need to apply corrections remains important for the skipper. At Navi.training courses, you will get acquainted with modern navigational equipment, including electronic compasses for sailboats and autopilots, and learn not only how to use them but also how they work and how to ensure their accuracy. After all, even the most advanced technology requires a competent user.

Compass in Bad Weather and at Night: Your Main Reference

When the sun sets or the sky becomes clouded, and visibility sharply drops, the role of the magnetic compass on board a sailboat increases many times over. In such conditions, it ceases to be merely a navigational tool and transforms into your primary, and sometimes only, reliable reference.

Night Sailing

Night sailing has its own special romance, but it also places increased demands on the skipper's skills. Visual landmarks that are familiar during the day (shorelines, individual trees or buildings) either disappear completely or become difficult to distinguish.

• Lights: At night, navigational lights become the main references:
  • Aids to Navigation (AtoN) Lights: Lighthouses, lighted buoys, leading lights. Their characteristics (color, frequency, and character of flashes) are indicated on the chart and in pilot books, and their correct identification is critically important.
  • Navigational Lights of Other Vessels: From their position and color, you can determine the type of vessel, its course, and intentions. Red light – port side, green – starboard, white – stern or masthead. If you see both red and green sidelights of an approaching vessel, it means it is coming straight at you.
• Compass – Your Guide: It is at night that the ability to accurately hold a course by compass becomes paramount. The safe course selected on the chart is maintained by constantly checking with the steering compass.
• Caution when taking bearings: At night, it is harder to accurately identify objects for bearing taking. Use only well-identified lighthouses or lights with known characteristics.
• Vision adaptation: To preserve night vision, use red instrument and chart lighting on board. Avoid bright white light.

Sailing in Restricted Visibility (Fog, Rain, Snow)

Fog is one of the most treacherous enemies of a sailor. Visibility can drop to a few tens of meters, and then orientation in space becomes an extremely difficult task.

• Compass and Dead Reckoning: In fog, you rely almost entirely on the compass to maintain your course and on dead reckoning to determine your estimated position. The accuracy of your dead reckoning becomes vitally important.
• Sound Signals: According to international rules (COLREGs), vessels are required to make prescribed fog signals (horns, bell, gong) in restricted visibility. It is important not only to make your own signals but also to listen carefully to the airwaves, trying to determine the presence and direction of other vessels by sound. Remember that sound in fog can be deceptive.
• Radar and GPS: If your sailboat has radar and GPS, they become invaluable aids. Radar will help detect other vessels and obstacles, and GPS will give you your position. But don't forget that electronics can also fail.
• Reduced Speed: In conditions of poor visibility, you must reduce speed to the minimum that allows for steerage, to have enough time to maneuver if danger suddenly appears.
• Constant Look-out: Enhance visual and auditory lookout.

Practicing sailing in challenging conditions, including night outings and training in simulated "fog" (when part of the view is obscured), is an integral part of quality skipper training at Navi.training. Our instructors will teach you not to fear these conditions, but to confidently use the compass and other available means for safe navigation. After all, a true captain is one who is ready to steer their sailboat to its destination in any weather and at any time of day, relying on their knowledge, experience, and reliable instruments, the most important of which in such situations is the compass.

Not Just for Looking, But for Caring: Compass Maintenance

Although the magnetic compass seems simple and reliable, it requires certain attention and care. Proper handling and timely maintenance will ensure its long and trouble-free operation, and therefore your safety at sea.

Basic Rules of Care and Operation:

1. Protection from Shocks and Vibrations: While sailboat compasses are designed to withstand marine conditions, strong impacts or constant excessive vibration can damage the sensitive mechanism of the compass card or its pivot. Try to avoid dropping the compass (especially handheld ones) and ensure the fixed compass is securely mounted.
2. Cleanliness of Glass and Casing: Regularly wipe the compass glass with a soft, clean cloth to ensure good visibility of the compass card. Use fresh water to remove salt deposits. Do not use abrasive cleaning agents or solvents, which can damage the glass or casing.
3. Checking Fluid in the Bowl: Periodically inspect the compass bowl. The fluid inside should be clear, without cloudiness or air bubbles.
   • Air Bubbles: A small bubble may appear with sharp temperature changes and is usually not a big problem if it doesn't interfere with reading. However, if the bubble is large or there are many, it may indicate a fluid leak. In this case, the compass requires repair or refilling of special fluid at a service center. Do not attempt to open the sealed bowl yourself.
   • Cloudy Fluid: Can be caused by aging fluid or water ingress. Such a compass also needs servicing.
4. Compass Card Condition: The compass card should rotate smoothly, without sticking. It should stabilize quickly after the sailboat turns. If the compass card moves sluggishly or "sticks," it may indicate problems with its pivot or demagnetization of the needles.
5. Lighting: Regularly check the operation of the steering compass lighting, especially before night outings.
6. Deviation Compensation: As we have already discussed, deviation is a serious source of error. Periodically (e.g., once a year or after installing new metal equipment or electrical appliances on board) it is recommended to check and, if necessary, correct the compass deviation. This usually requires a specialist. Keep your deviation table up to date.
7. Avoid Magnetic Fields: The most important rule is not to place metal objects (especially steel and iron), magnets, mobile phones, radio stations, audio system speakers, tools, and other sources of magnetic or electromagnetic fields near the compass. Even a small magnetic object can significantly distort readings. Educate your entire crew about this rule.

Storing a Handheld Compass:

• If you are not using a handheld bearing compass, store it in a special case or box in a dry place, protected from direct sunlight and strong magnetic fields.

When to Contact Specialists:

• If large air bubbles appear or the fluid in the bowl becomes cloudy.
• If the compass card rotates poorly or does not stabilize.
• If there are suspicions of a significant change in deviation that cannot be compensated.
• For routine checks and deviation compensation.

Caring for a compass is a simple but important part of the overall culture of sailboat operation. Treat it with respect, and it will serve you faithfully for many years, remaining your most reliable navigational reference. At Navi.training courses, we not only teach how to use a compass but also explain the basics of caring for shipboard equipment, because a competent skipper is also a diligent owner of their vessel. A properly used compass on a sailboat is the key to your safety.

So, you have now become more familiar with what might seem like a simple but nuanced instrument – the sailboat compass. From its history and differences from its land-based "brother" to the subtleties of working with electronic counterparts, variation, and deviation – every aspect is important for the future captain. The ability not just to see numbers on the compass card, but to understand what lies behind them, and how to use these readings for safe sailing in all conditions, using the compass on a sailboat – that's what distinguishes an experienced sailor.

The path from a dream to holding the helm can seem long, but it is incredibly fascinating. And the compass is just one of many tools and skills you will master. Imagine: you confidently plot a course on a chart, checking with the reliable compass needle, steer your sailboat through night waves, navigating by lighthouse lights, or safely enter an unfamiliar bay, knowing your exact position. This is the freedom that sailing offers.

If this article has ignited a spark of interest and a desire to learn more, to take the next step, then the Navi.training team is ready to be your guide into this amazing world. We understand your possible concerns: the complexity of learning, the cost, the language barrier. Therefore, we have created programs that make yachting courses accessible, understandable, and effective, even if you are starting from absolute scratch. Our experienced instructors speak your language (Russian, Ukrainian, English) and will help you master all the intricacies, from working with a compass to complex maneuvers and night navigation, which is a unique part of our practical Sailing Training. Upon completion of the course, you will receive an internationally recognized ISSA certificate, opening doors for independent sailboat charter worldwide. And we, in turn, are always ready to help you with choosing a sailboat for your first independent voyage. Sailing is not a privilege of the elite; it is an exciting journey available to anyone who is willing to learn and dream. And Navi.training is here to help you navigate this path – from dream to helm. You'll learn the various types of boat licences, including Yacht Licenses, and useful skills such as Alongsidemooring and even tips for yachting with children.