Course to Steer (CTS)
The compass direction a vessel must follow to reach a planned destination, taking into account the effects of wind, tide, and current. It is not simply the straight line between two points but an adjusted heading that compensates for any forces that might push the boat off track. By calculating a course to steer, a navigator ensures the vessel stays on its intended track over the ground, even if the water or wind is moving it sideways.
How to plot a Course to Steer
This step-by-step guide shows how to plot a preemptive Course to Steer. The Day Skipper Theory course's Passage Planning & Making module teaches this chart plotting process.
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