Navigation General · Currents
A vessel must make good a course of 270°T at 10 knots SMG. A current sets 180°T at 3 knots. The vessel must steer to the north of the intended track to compensate. What does the navigator solve for in the current triangle?
- AThe course to steer and speed required through the water✓ Correct
- BThe set and drift of the current
- CThe CMG and SMG resulting from any heading
- DThe duration of tidal current
Explanation
When the desired CMG and SMG are known along with the current vector, the navigator solves the current triangle to find the heading (course to steer) and speed through the water required to achieve the intended ground track.
Authority: Bowditch (Pub. 9), Ch. 7
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