What is the difference between 'course' and 'track'?
Short answer
Course is the direction steered; track is the actual path over the ground after accounting for tide and leeway
The course is the direction steered through the water. The track (or course made good / ground track) is the actual path over the seabed, which differs from the course due to the effect of tidal streams, current, and leeway.
Quick check
What is the difference between 'course' and 'track'?