USCG Exam PracticeRunning fix from a single object
Compared to a fix derived from simultaneous LOPs, a running fix is considered:
- A. More accurate because it uses a longer baseline between observations
- ✓ Less accurate because the advanced LOP depends on the assumption that the vessel held the planned courseCorrect
- C. Equally accurate provided the same charted object is used for both bearings
- D. More accurate when the doubling-the-angle technique is applied
Why B is correct
Bowditch Ch. 7 §702 explicitly states the running fix is less accurate than a fix from simultaneous LOPs. Bowditch Ch. 23 §2301 reinforces that a fundamental navigational error is the assumption that the vessel has held the planned course, which is exactly what advancing an LOP requires.