The real solution
is out of our hands. Instead of the digits below the compass reflecting rudder position it should show your course. In addition, no real nautical compass in the entire universe is not equipped with a lubbers' line, a line showing both the current course and its reciprocal: the course 180º from your current course. Some compasses also have lines indicating 30º and 90º course changes, port and starboard. That way if you want to change course that number of degrees you can just read your new heading off the compass.
Alas, we have a rare breed of Romanian compass :p which was manufactured during a pixel shortage.
Irrelevent story: I was a 12 year-old Michigan Junior High School student when Michigan instituted a testing procedure for boat operators. Unfortunately, the test was written by people whose navigation experience was limited to getting to and from their desk at work.
One of the questions, which didn't even belong on such a test was "A compass is easier to use on a boat than on land, true or false" I chose true because marine compasses are gimballed so you don't have to level them, pre-oriented fore and aft so orientation is not necessary and have lubbers' lines so all you do is look at the compass and read your heading. It's a hands-off procedure!
On land, you take the compass out of your pocket, level it, orient north toward the needle and then read the heading that points the way you're moving. There are lots of ways to screw that up.
The examiner said the answer was false because I had to use a hikers' compass on the boat! The question didn't stipulate that. I assumed you would use the appropriate compass. How stupid could I be!:rotfl:
So that ruined my perfect score. I was an angry little kid there.
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