[Gildor]

Think of it this way: your boat is the center of the universe. The compass has nothing to do with the tactical situation other than calculating howand when you will intercept your target.

The direction of your travel is the "heading". Everything else in relation to your boat is at a "bearing". Bow of your boat is 0, Aft of your boat is 180. Port is "left" (270), and Starboard is "right" (90).

I have a navy background and when I stood lookout duties I was use to calling contacts as Red 25 or Green 120 as opposed to bearings.

Red is port, green is starboard.

SO a contact would be something like "OOW, Starboard lookout, bearing Green 25 ship far" or something similar. That would mean a ship contact to the right of our heading by 25 degrees