What is the difference between 'heading' and 'bearing'?
Short answer
Heading is the direction the bow points; bearing is the direction of an external object measured from the vessel or from north
Heading is the direction in which the bow points. Bearing is the direction of an object or position; state whether its reference is true, magnetic, compass or relative. The reference must be stated before transferring the number to a chart or another instrument. Revise this in Directions and Movement.
Quick check
What is the difference between 'heading' and 'bearing'?