Position fixing
How to Take a Hand Bearing with a Hand-Bearing Compass
Published · Last checked October 2026
To take a hand bearing, stand somewhere on deck away from steel, engines and electronics, hold the compass at eye level and line its sight up on the object. Let the card settle, read the bearing off the prism or index, and note the time. Take two or three readings and average them if the boat is rolling. Hand bearings are used to fix your position, check clearing bearings and judge risk of collision.
Step by step
- Choose your spot: in the cockpit or by the shrouds, at least a metre from the engine, steering compass, speakers and steel fittings.
- Identify the object on the chart first: a lighthouse, beacon, church or clear headland edge.
- Sight the object through the compass at eye level, keeping it level so the card swings freely.
- Wait for the card to settle; in a seaway, read the middle of its swing.
- Read and say the bearing out loud, and note the time.
- Repeat once or twice and average if the readings differ.
Choosing good objects
| Good | Poor |
|---|---|
| Lighthouses, spires, beacons | Buoys (they move on their moorings) |
| Steep headland edges | Gently sloping points (hard to see the 'edge') |
| Close objects | Distant objects (small errors become big distances) |
| Objects well spread in bearing | Objects close together in direction |
What hand bearings are used for
- Fixing position: two or three bearings plotted together give a three-point fix. See how to plot a bearing.
- Clearing bearings: checking you are on the safe side of a hazard.
- Risk of collision: if the compass bearing of an approaching vessel does not change appreciably, risk of collision exists (COLREGs Rule 7). Take a series of bearings to check.
- Checking anchor drag: bearings of two or three shore objects should stay constant at anchor.
Sources of error
A hand-bearing compass is magnetic, so apply variation before plotting. Deviation is usually negligible if you stand away from metal, but test it: compare a hand bearing of a charted transit with the charted bearing. Glasses with metal frames, phones and torches held close to the compass can also deflect it. Practise in the position fixing lesson.