To 'box the compass,' a sailor must recite all 32 cardinal and fractional points in order without a single mistake.

The practice of boxing the compass dates back to the early days of maritime navigation when the magnetic compass was the primary tool for direction. The 32-point system is based on dividing the 360-degree circle into four cardinal points: North, South, East, and West. These are further divided into intercardinal points like Northeast and Southeast, then into eight principal points, and finally into 32 points total. Each point represents an arc of 11 degrees 15 minutes, or 11.25 degrees.Historically, the Royal Navy and other merchant fleets required midshipmen and apprentices to master this skill as a fundamental part of their seamanship. The ability to 'box' the compass meant the sailor could name all 32 points in a clockwise direction, then reverse the process counter-clockwise. This level of memorization was essential because helm orders were given using these specific names rather than numerical degrees. A mistake in understanding a point could lead a ship miles off course or into dangerous shoals.The terminology follows a strict logical progression. For example, 'North by East' is one point east of North, while 'North-Northeast' is two points east. This system remained the standard for navigation until the early 20th century when the 360-degree notation became more common due to the increased precision of gyrocompasses. Today, while the 360-degree system is used for modern GPS and digital navigation, the 32-point system is still taught in traditional maritime academies to preserve the heritage and discipline of the sea.