Map Tools, Small Compass -- Why????

[Captain Hill]

OK, I bet the answer is easy, but danged if I can tell. I tend to look at problems in a complex fashion when the answer is sitting in my hand, but here goes.

OK, I am on the navigation chart and I select a tool (let's say I am plotting a course or choose the ruler) and then open the small compass at the top of tools. The result is that the tool has changed to a compass but with all the ordinal points reversed (N is down, E is to the left, etc.) How is this tool used? In what circumstances? That is, how does this inverted ompass help in using the chart?

Calm seas!

Dan

[Hmuda]

Originally Posted by Captain Hill

OK, I bet the answer is easy, but danged if I can tell. I tend to look at problems in a complex fashion when the answer is sitting in my hand, but here goes.

OK, I am on the navigation chart and I select a tool (let's say I am plotting a course or choose the ruler) and then open the small compass at the top of tools. The result is that the tool has changed to a compass but with all the ordinal points reversed (N is down, E is to the left, etc.) How is this tool used? In what circumstances? That is, how does this inverted ompass help in using the chart?

Calm seas!

Dan

Actually it's like that to make your life easier.

Imagine that you try to determine the heading of a target. You put down one marker, wait a few minutes, place another marker and use the ruler to determine the distance it traveled (in other words, the speed :P ). As a by product, you also laid down the estimated course of the ship.

Since the compass is uspide down, while you draw the line, the position intersecting the compass will be the heading. If the 0 would be facing north, than the line would intersect the compass the opposite of what you need to read off it.

Hope it helped.

[Captain Hill]

<continually hits head against wall>Thanks, Hmuda. Sometimes I truly cannot see the forest for the trees.</continually hits head against wall>

Dan (I think)