What do you do when a compass points the wrong way?

Throw the compass overboard (assuming you are sailing ) and search for the Pole star to guide you if its night time. If its daytime you will have earth's dear old friend the Sun to guide you.

Answer:

The compass points in some direction, determine what this is using your watch and the sun. Then adjust your compass readings to the correct direction.

To find out what direction "north is:

1. Determine what time it is (look at your watch) and correct it to Standard time (not Daylight Savings time)
2. Pretend you are standing on a 24 hour clock dial.
3. The sun is directly over the time you read off your watch.
4. Noon is due south. Midnight due north, East 6 am. West 6 pm.