Your vessel is steering course 197°psc, variation for the area is 7°E, and deviation is 4°W. The wind is from the west, producing a 2° leeway. Which true course are you making good?
• Compass to true conversion using variation and deviation • How east and west corrections affect the numerical value of a course • Effect of leeway (wind from west) on the actual course made good
• Start from 197°psc and first correct for deviation to find the magnetic course. Should a west deviation make the number bigger or smaller? • From the magnetic course, apply the 7°E variation to find true course. Does an east variation increase or decrease the true course number? • Finally, consider leeway: if the wind is from the west, is your vessel being pushed toward a more easterly or westerly course, and do you add or subtract the 2° from your true heading?
• Be sure of the sign convention: "east is least, west is best" for going from true to compass; reverse carefully when going from compass to true • Track corrections in order: compass → magnetic → true → leeway • After all corrections, check whether your final answer is more easterly (smaller number) or westerly (larger number) than 197° and compare with the choices
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