True Bearings and Courses
A true bearing is measured clockwise from True North (0°/360°) through East (090°), South (180°), and West (270°). All chart work is done in true bearings initially — compass corrections (variation and deviation) are applied afterwards.
A course is the intended direction of travel, expressed as a three-figure bearing (e.g., 045°T). The suffix T, M, or C indicates True, Magnetic, or Compass bearing.
Key Points
- True bearings: measured clockwise from True North
- Always written as three figures (e.g., 005°, 090°, 180°)
- T = True, M = Magnetic, C = Compass
- Charts are oriented to True North
- Compass rose on chart shows both True and Magnetic north