Glossary
Terms & Glossaries of Shipping and Trading
Boxing the Compass
Boxing the compass is a basic skill of any sailor, being the ability to repeat all 32 points of the compass (in 1/4 points).
Boxing the compass is a basic skill of any sailor, being the ability to repeat all 32 points of the compass (in 1/4 points). A "point" is in fact 11 1/4 degrees, the modern compass being divided into 360 degrees, 0 (or 360) being North, 90 East, etc.To state all 32 points of the compass, starting at north, proceeding clockwise. The phrase is sometimes applied to a wind that is constantly shifting.
