Using a Hand-Bearing Compass

A hand-bearing compass is a portable compass used to take bearings of objects. Hold it up to your eye, sight on the object through the prism, and read the bearing from the compass card. The bearing you read is a Compass bearing (it includes deviation for the position where you're standing).

For accurate bearings, hold the compass away from metal, rigging, and electronics. Take bearings from the same position each time if possible. Three bearings of different objects, plotted on the chart, give a 'cocked hat' (triangle) fix.