When two sailboats meet three rules to follow:

1. The ship on port tack gives way to the ship on starboard tack. 2. When in the same direction, the windward boat gives way to the leeward boat. 3. The overtaking vessel keeps clear of the slowest ship.

For more information about the rules of the road, download a free version! "Rules of the Road" article with graphics on our website at http://learntosail.net/

Pilot Deviation and Variation

There is two types of poles, the geographic North and the South Pole, also known as True North and True North and South Magnetic Pole and the South. The geographic poles are stationary. Land is a great magnet with the magnetic lines of force running from the north magnetic pole to the south magnetic pole. The magnetic pole is located in northern Canada, just west of the geographic pole. It changes location for long periods of time.

Variation is the angle between magnetic north and true north. This is indicated by a compass when it is free from any influence by magnetic. A magnetized pointer, or needle, which allows you to rotate freely, will point to magnetic north pole. In a ship's compass, the needle is in the center of a ring that shows 360 degrees. Now matter which way the boat heads the compass points to magnetic north.

Deviation

Boats with large amount of metal have their own magnetic fields and the compass can respond to it and went a little away from the direction of magnetic north. When this happens, it is called the compass deviation and must be compensated. This can be done by installing small magnets inside the compass, or, you can make a mapping of the misuse of his ship and refer to it when you find out What course to follow his compass. This applies particularly to small boat sailor who do not use a compass mounted with magnets.

Variation

Often you will be given a course to run from one place to another in certain directions. This means you have to convert the scans to run this course with the compass. There is a very coherent state and easy to follow when going to really magnetic. In the U.S. East and Canada, to go on a real course of a magnetic heading, add a variant west. To go from a magnetic field of a course of truth, you subtract a variant west. In the U.S. and western Canada, to pass a course of truth to a magnetic course, subtract a variation of this move from a magnetic heading to true course, add a variation of this.

Sailing Conditions

Navigation pilot out using visual references, such as navigational aids.

Navigation aids, markers of template on land or sea to help mariners avoid danger and fix its position.

Bearing-The direction of an object to an observer, like a buoy or another boat. Graph-A nautical chart.

"Demarcation of Borders.

Nun-A buoy is not lit, but numbered, red and pointed, and always on the starboard side to return from a hand toward the sea, the port exit.

Can-A buoy is not lit, but numbered, green and flat, and always on the port side when returning from sea, to starboard to go.

Happy Sailing! __/)_

About the Author:

Linda Cullum is from Cape Cod, MA, with a second home in Vermont. She is the author of Learn to Sail! with Multimedia! a Sailing training CDROM/DVD which teaches all aspects of Sailing including Knots, Rules of the Road, Weather with digital video from Sail Magazine, narration, animation and quizzes.
, Click here to visit her site! Happy Sailing_/)__

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Rules of the Road…Who has the Right of Way?

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