Page:Small-boat sailing; an explanation of the management of small yachts, half-decked and open sailing-boats of various rigs; sailing on sea and on river; cruising, etc (IA smallboatsailing01knig).pdf/202

 Table is drawn up. The deviation for the first four points only out of the thirty-two is given:—

+-+++ +-+++ + +++
 * Ship's Head  |                  |       Correct        |
 * by Compass.  |    Deviation.    |   Magnetic Course.   |
 * by Compass.  |    Deviation.    |   Magnetic Course.   |
 * N.        |      ½ E.        |    N. ½ E.           |
 * N. by E.  |      1 E.        |    N.N.E.            |
 * N.N.E.    |     2¼ W.        |    N. ¼ W.           |
 * N.E. by N. |    1½ W.        |    N. by E. ½ E.     |
 * Etc.    |      Etc.        |        Etc.          |
 * N.E. by N. |    1½ W.        |    N. by E. ½ E.     |
 * Etc.    |      Etc.        |        Etc.          |
 * Etc.    |      Etc.        |        Etc.          |
 * Etc.    |      Etc.        |        Etc.          |

The table is thus employed. Look to column 3 for the direction in which you wish to sail; the corresponding course in Table 1 is the course which you must steer by your compass. For example, by the table above, if your destination bears N. ½ E. you will have to steer N. by your compass. The points of the compass are generally expressed in degrees on a Deviation Table. (As there are thirty-two points in the circle of 360 degrees, a point measures 11¼ degrees.) Thus N.E. would be N. 45° E. But when navigating a small yacht it is unnecessary to employ these numerical subdivisions of the points of the compass; the quarter-point is a sufficiently minute division for all practical purposes. On small wooden yachts, if the compass is in the right place and proper precautions are taken, there is rarely any serious deviation.