When winds were to light that no headway could be made, a ship could not maintain directional control from the ruder and became subject to the whims of waves and tide, the ships head would swing from side to side so 'boxing the compass'.
Xa inqanawe ingakwaziyo ukugcina ulawulo lwesalathisi kumphini wenqanawe ngenxa yomoya, ithi ngoko ibe phantsi kokuntlithwa-ntlithwa ngamaza nemisinga, ide intloko yayo ijikajikwe macala onke oko kuthiwa kukuthi 'boxing the compass'.