What is the true heading to steer inbound in York River Entrance Channel if your engines are turning for 9.8 knots, the current is 220°T at 1.2 knots, and a northeasterly wind causes 3° of leeway?
• Effect of set and drift of current on your course to steer • How leeway from wind changes your heading relative to your desired track • Difference between course over ground (COG) and heading
• First, decide what the desired track inbound in the channel would be without any current or wind. How would you find or estimate that? • Then, determine how a current of 220°T at 1.2 knots will affect your vessel’s motion if your engines are making 9.8 knots through the water. Does it push you to the left or right of your intended track when inbound? • Given that the wind is northeasterly and causes 3° of leeway, in which direction (toward which side) will the bow need to point to stay on the centerline of the channel?
• Be sure you are using true directions for all values (current, wind, heading) • Confirm whether you are correcting from a desired course over ground to a heading by applying current first, then leeway • Double-check the direction of the current set (220°T) relative to an inbound course: is it helping or opposing you, and is it setting you toward the north or south side of the channel?
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