Virtual anchor features for a navigation/autopilot system for use on a marine vessel are provided herein. An example apparatus associated with a marine vessel includes a processor and memory including computer program code, the memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to receive user input indicating at least a first geographic location and a desired offset distance; determine a current geographic location of at least one of the marine vessel or the apparatus; determine if the current geographic location is within a distance threshold of the desired offset distance from the first geographic location; and cause, in an instance in which the current geographic location is not within the distance threshold, one or more motors of the marine vessel to operate to cause the marine vessel to move to a new geographic location accordingly. A desired orbit pattern may also be employed.