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 A — 136°

The vessel travels 0.99 miles in 4 minutes at 14.8 knots. Using the initial radar range and bearing, calculate the relative motion required to achieve a 0.5-mile CPA to port. Plotting the triangle of velocities confirms 136°T is the required heading to clear the buoy.