Chart Navigation & Plotting · Fixes — Best Angle of Cut

For the most reliable two-bearing fix, the lines of position should ideally cross at an angle near:

Explanation

LOPs crossing near 90° minimize the positional error from a given bearing error. Narrow angles of cut (acute or obtuse) make the fix very sensitive to small bearing errors, enlarging the area of uncertainty.

Authority: Bowditch (Pub. No. 9), selecting objects for a fix

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