This brings up a good point, however: Why are
charts not standardized to read 18 degrees, 30" (can't find the degree sign). 18 1/2 and 18.5 are ambiguous.
I don't mind decimal minutes on my
GPS, but I find it annoying on my
charts when the minutes integer is five or less.
I consider plotting and helming slightly differently in the age of
GPS.
Autopilot is an extension of plotting, whether by
GPS or paper
charts and plastic plotter, bearings, known waypoint, etc.: it's a function of what you put in. A slip of brain or finger and you can't blame the equipment.
Helming on a tiller to a bulkhead
compass, on the other hand, is just the law of averages at work, and sometimes the helmsman will off a little off course to catch a puff or in anticipation of a tack/gybe. What is surprising to many, however, is that over short stretches, a good helmsman can equal or beat an
autopilot, and over long stretches, a wind vane can equal or beat an
autopilot.
Windvane, Autopilot, steering systems
Where the
autopilot wins, of course, is while motoring to a waypoint in calm waters/light airs. What this says about the popularity of
autopilots currently I can't really say.