| How many times have you tried to steer an accurate | | | | your time interval runs out. |
| magnetic compass course in a small cruising sailboat, | | | | 3. Wander to the other side of the course line |
| only to be pushed or pulled off course time and again? | | | | Change course to the opposite side of the course line. |
| On reaches, you have a lot more weather helm. It | | | | Glance at your watch again. In our example, we |
| seems just when you get steady on course, a gust of | | | | change course to the right and wander 0 to 10 |
| wind or playful wave pushes the boat off course | | | | degrees to the right of the course line. We will do this |
| again. | | | | for exactly 10 minutes because that's how long we |
| Solve this problem with the secret of course | | | | wandered on the other side of the course. |
| averaging. This method allows the boat to wander off | | | | Example: |
| course at specific intervals of time. It removes the | | | | It's a choppy day with winds at 15 knots. You are |
| fatigue of white-knuckle steering and gives you more | | | | beam reaching on a course of 270 degrees. You will |
| accuracy too. You will stay on course line like a | | | | use course averaging and decide on a time interval of |
| locomotive glued to a railroad track! Follow these three | | | | 20 minutes. You will start wandering to the right of |
| simple steps: | | | | your course. |
| 1. Determine a convenient time interval | | | | Glance at your time. Steer between 270 degrees and |
| To make averaging work, you need to time each | | | | 280 degrees. As soon as 20 minutes passes, change |
| "wandering" interval. Any interval will do the trick, but it's | | | | course to the left. Glance at your watch again. Now, |
| easier to pick even units of 10--such as 10 minutes, 20 | | | | steer between 270 degrees and 260 degrees for |
| minutes, or 30 minutes. | | | | exactly 20 minutes. Change course back to the right |
| 2. Wander between 0 degree and 10 degrees to one | | | | when your time runs out. Continue this sequence until |
| side | | | | you reach the end of your course. |
| Pick one side of the course line to start wandering. | | | | ******************** |
| Let's say we decide to wander on the left side. Glance | | | | Use the secret of course averaging when steering |
| at your watch and then steer between 0 to 10 | | | | conditions get tough. You and your sailing crew will be |
| degrees to the left of the course line. Watch your time | | | | rewarded with better steering accuracy, less fatigue, |
| like a hawk! You want to change course as soon as | | | | and a much more enjoyable time at the helm. |