PLOTTING A COURSE
Guiding Principle
Open crossings, paddling at night or in fog, or sorting out which of many islands to paddle towards all require the ability to plot and follow a course. Again, this is important for good seamanship.
Performance Objectives
- Paddlers should plot a course using a number of techniques.
- Paddlers should use piloting to follow the course.
- Paddlers should adjust for magnetic variation.
Materials
- Photocopy of charts
- Orienteering compass
- Pencils
- Parallel rules
- Small Craft Nav-Aid
- Scratch paper
- Grease pencil
Magnetic Variation
The problem encountered with plotting a course is that the bearing potted will not match what the compass reads while afloat. The north of a compass (or magnetic north) does not agree with the geographic North Pole.
Magnetic Variation (Declination)
The difference between True North and Magnetic North. Changes depending on geographic location.