Navigation General · Piloting — Clearing Bearings
A clearing bearing (e.g., 'keep the light bearing not less than 045°') is used to:
- AKeep the vessel clear of a charted danger without a continuous fix✓ Correct
- BSet the radar gain
- CCompute great-circle distance
- DPredict the tide
Explanation
A clearing bearing defines a line that, if not crossed, keeps the vessel in safe water past a hazard. The navigator simply confirms the object's bearing stays on the safe side of the stated value—no plotting of a full fix is needed.
Authority: Bowditch; piloting practice
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