Navigation Video 11: Using Magnetic Clearing Bearings to stay in safe waters

In this video, we learn how to draw a magnetic clearing bearing on a chart to to stay in safe water and avoid dangerous rocks, shallows or shoals. We'll draw a line on a chart to a navigation aid or land feature, with dangers on one side of the line, and safe water on the other side. Then we determine the magnetic bearing of the line. When we're underway we use a hand held compass to take a magnetic sighting to the navigation aid or land feature to assure that we're on the correct side of the line. The line is called a clearing bearing.