USCG Exam PracticeCourse to steer to compensate for current
A navigator wishes to make good a course of 000°T. The current sets 090°T at 3 knots and the vessel's speed through the water is 9 knots. Which of the following best describes the course to steer?
- A. Steer 000°T; the current has no effect on a northbound track
- ✓ Steer a course to the west of 000°T to counteract the easterly-setting currentCorrect
- C. Steer a course to the east of 000°T to counteract the easterly-setting current
- D. Steer 090°T to align with the current and then correct back to 000°T
Why B is correct
A current setting 090°T pushes the vessel eastward. To make good 000°T, the vessel must steer west of 000°T so that the current vector and the water-track vector sum to the desired course made good. The vector triangle (course steered + drift vector = course made good) requires a westward correction.