Y ou have to keep courses in the journal on which you’re sailing up to date. In the image below you see a journal as is used on the Veersedijk and Merwedijk.
Deck log book: left page
Image 2: Copy of deck log book, left page
The numbers in the columns will be described below.
Time: Here we write the amount of time of how long we have sailed for that specific course. Info: The format to use is h:mm, for example 3:30. Warning: Do not write the time as 03:30, this is a time indication. In this case half past three in the morning.
Distance run acc log: Here we write the remaining distance for the voyage taken from the GPS.
Gyro compass: Here we write the course as indicated on the gyro compass. (In practice, here the course as indicated in the chart is written)
Steering compass: Here we write the course as indicated on the steering compass. (In practice we do not use this column, as our steering course is the same as our gyro course)
Standard compass: Here we write the course as indicated by the Magnetic compass.
Variation: Here we write the variation as taken from the chart. Remember: You have to recalculate the variation to the right variation for the year we are living in. Also: West is negative (-) and East is positive (+).
Deviation standard compass: Here we write the deviation of the standard compass with the gyro compass. The following formulas are used: - gyro course(GC) minus standard compass(SC) gives compass error | GC – SC = error - error minus variation gives deviation | error – var = dev
So the formula for the calculate of the deviation is: GC – SC – var = dev
Course: Here we write the course as given in the voyage plan. (In practice this will be the same as the gyro course, which is also the same as the course in the chart)
Distance: Here we write the amount of miles that we sailed. To get this we can get the distance from the chart with the pair of compasses. (In practice you take the previous value of the distance run acc. log minus the one you just entered in column 2)
RPM of the propeller: Here we write at what speed we are sailing. The speed can be: - any percentage as shown on the meter, e.g. 70% - Economical speed, speed instruction given by charterer - Optimal speed, speed instruction given by charterer - Full speed, speed instruction given by charterer
Deck log book: right page
Image 3: Copy of deck log book, right page
The column numbers are:
Weather: Here we write down the weather as explained in the “Weather in the journal” description.
Tank soundings: Here we write the sounding of the tanks. (In practice we do not use this column)
Entries and courses: Here we write the position of the ship. As seen in image2 we changed course at 01:15 and we used the bearing and distance of the EF racon buoy to get the position of our ship. At 01:50 we took a GPS position and wrote that down.
Image 2: Copy of deck log book, left page
Info: The format to use is h:mm, for example 3:30. 
Warning: Do not write the time as 03:30, this is a time indication. In this case half past three in the morning.
Remember: You have to recalculate the variation to the right variation for the year we are living in. Also: West is negative (-) and East is positive (+).