When navigating, which direction is 'West' characterized by?

In navigation, west is characterized by a change in direction that typically involves adding to the course heading. When using a compass, directions are typically expressed in degrees where north corresponds to 0 degrees, east to 90 degrees, south to 180 degrees, and west to 270 degrees.

To navigate west, you would take your current course heading and add to it to achieve the necessary bearing towards a 270-degree direction. This addition is essential, especially when adjusting a course to maintain a desired trajectory towards a point located to the west of your vessel's current position.

Understanding quadrant headings and their relation to compass rose can help clarify why adding degrees to the course is necessary for navigating west. Thus, the association of west with the need to add to the course reflects how navigation is conventionally managed using angular measurements from the north point.