Heading

Heading is the direction in which a vessel’s bow is pointing at a given moment, expressed in degrees from 000° to 359°. It may be referenced to true north, magnetic north, or a compass reading, depending on the instrument and navigation system in use.

For boaters, heading is fundamental to steering, collision avoidance, and checking whether the boat is being set off track by wind, leeway, or Tidal Current. Comparing heading with positions from GPS and bearings from a Compass helps confirm whether the vessel is making the intended progress over the ground.

In PredictWind routing and onboard navigation workflows, heading data from instruments can support performance analysis, tracking, and situational awareness. When combined with wind, wave, and current forecasts, Weather Routing helps skippers choose headings and route options that are safer and more efficient.