Question 1 of 2707066636ee928f7522a1c519465

While on a course of 138°T, a light bears 14° on the starboard bow at a distance of 8.6 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to starboard?

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Question 1 of 27070
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Q

While on a course of 138°T, a light bears 14° on the starboard bow at a distance of 8.6 miles. What course should you steer to pass 3 miles abeam of the light leaving it to starboard?

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🔍 Key Concepts

• Convert the relative bearing on the starboard bow to a true bearing of the light • Use the idea that closest point of approach (CPA) is the perpendicular distance from your track to the light • Changing course changes the angle between your track and the line of sight to the light, which changes that perpendicular distance

💭 Think About

• First, find the true bearing of the light from your ship using your present course and the 14° relative bearing on the starboard bow. How do you combine those? • Imagine extending your present track: would you pass closer than 3 miles, exactly 3 miles, or more than 3 miles from the light? Is the light currently to the right or left of your future track? • For each proposed new course, think: does turning to port or starboard make the track pass farther away from the light on your starboard side, and which option gives a larger perpendicular distance (CPA)?

✅ Before You Answer

• Be clear on the difference between relative bearing (from your bow) and true bearing (from true north) • Sketch the situation and draw a right triangle from your present position to the light and then perpendicular to your track to visualize the CPA • Before picking a course, check whether it would move your track toward or away from the light while still leaving the light on your starboard side at closest approach