System and method for controlling handling of a marine vessel

A system for controlling handling of a marine vessel, the system comprising:

• a steerable component coupled to the marine vessel and steerable to a plurality of positions so as to vary a direction of movement of the marine vessel;
• a controller communicatively connected to an actuator of the steerable component;
• a user input that provides to the controller an operator-initiated steering command to steer the steerable component to one of the plurality of positions;
• and
• a sensor that provides to the controller an indication of an undesired course change of the marine vessel;
• wherein the controller has a vessel direction control section which, in response to the indication of the undesired course change, outputs a command to the actuator to change a position of the steerable component from the one of the plurality of positions to automatically counteract the undesired course change;
• wherein the vessel direction control section is active only when the operator-initiated steering command is less than or equal to a predetermined threshold.