You are steaming on course 126°T at 14.8 knots. At 1022 you sight a buoy bearing 128°T, at a range of 4.8 miles. If you change course at 1026, what true course will you steer to leave the buoy 0.5 mile abeam to port?

Correct Answer: Option B — 136°

Calculate the vessel's position at the time of course change using dead reckoning. By plotting the relative motion triangle, determine the required heading to achieve the desired cross-track distance. Applying the principles of relative motion from Bowditch, a course of 136°T provides the necessary geometry to pass the buoy at 0.5 miles.