You are bound for Baltimore via Cape Henry on a 15 knot ship. If the flood at Chesapeake Bay entrance begins at 1800 EST (ZD +5), at what time would you depart from the Chesapeake Bay entrance to have the most favorable current?

Correct Answer: Option D — 2030 hours

With a 15-knot vessel speed and a 2.5-hour transit from Chesapeake Bay entrance to Baltimore, departing at 2030 places the vessel at the entrance just after the 1800 flood onset, allowing the ship to ride the maximum favorable flood current through the restricted channel.