USCG Exam PracticeCourse to steer to compensate for current
A navigator wants to maintain a track of 045°T over the ground despite a current with a set of 090° and a drift of 3 knots. According to the vector triangle for current correction, which procedure is correct?
- ✓ From the desired course made good and the known drift vector, derive the course to steer through the waterCorrect
- B. Apply set and drift to the DR position after arrival to correct the logged track
- C. Advance the 045°T LOP along the DR track by the drift distance to obtain a running fix
- D. Steer 045°T and add the drift vector to find the course made good
Why A is correct
Bowditch Ch. 24 §2402 states that by inverting the vector triangle — from course made good and drift, derive the course steered required to make a given track over ground. Option A describes the forward solution (finding course made good from course steered), not the correction procedure.
Cited:Bowditch Ch. 24 §2402