🔍 Key Concepts
• True–Gyro–Magnetic–Compass (T–G–M–C) relationship and the usual "triangle" or table you set up
• How to correctly apply variation, deviation, and gyro error with their signs (E vs W)
• How leeway (from a N by E wind) affects the course you must steer vs. the course made good
💭 Think About
• Start from the desired true course and, step by step, convert it to what you need to steer on the standard magnetic compass. In what order do you normally apply leeway, variation, and deviation?
• Think about the sign: if variation is east, does that make magnetic greater or less than true? If deviation is west, does that make compass greater or less than magnetic?
• A north by east wind gives 4° leeway. Relative to a course near north, does that push your bow to the left (west) or right (east)? Therefore, do you steer into or away from the wind to compensate? And by how many degrees?
✅ Before You Answer
• Be sure you end with a psc (per standard compass) course, not magnetic or gyro – double‑check which scale you’re on at each step
• Carefully track E vs W for variation, deviation, gyro error, and leeway; confirm whether each one should be added or subtracted from the previous heading
• After getting your final answer, mentally check: does the steering course seem reasonable given the small corrections (all are only a few degrees)? It should be close to the desired true course.