Chart Navigation & Plotting · Leeway — Effect on Track
Leeway is the downwind displacement of a vessel caused by the wind. With the wind on the port side, the vessel is set:
- ADirectly ahead, with no offset needed
- BTo port, so the course must be offset to starboard
- CTo starboard, so the course steered must be offset to port to make good the track✓ Correct
- DAstern, slowing the vessel only
Explanation
Leeway pushes the vessel away from the wind (to leeward). With the wind on the port side, the set is to starboard; to make good the intended track the helmsman must steer up into the wind — offsetting to port — by the estimated leeway angle.
Authority: Bowditch (Pub. No. 9), Leeway
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