How many degrees must a helmsman have to maintain a course?

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Multiple Choice

How many degrees must a helmsman have to maintain a course?

Explanation:
Maintaining a course means holding a steady heading on the compass. The helmsman does this by keeping the helm at neutral (no turn) and making small corrections with the rudder to counter drift from wind and current. Those corrections are described in degrees of rudder (or wheel turn), not in speed. Speed, measured in knots, doesn’t set how many degrees of helm you use; it affects how quickly corrections take effect and how much drift you’ll experience. So the essential idea is to steer input in degrees to stay on the desired course, rather than relying on a speed value.

Maintaining a course means holding a steady heading on the compass. The helmsman does this by keeping the helm at neutral (no turn) and making small corrections with the rudder to counter drift from wind and current. Those corrections are described in degrees of rudder (or wheel turn), not in speed. Speed, measured in knots, doesn’t set how many degrees of helm you use; it affects how quickly corrections take effect and how much drift you’ll experience. So the essential idea is to steer input in degrees to stay on the desired course, rather than relying on a speed value.

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