You are underway and intend to make good a course of 088°T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 300°T at 2.4 knots, and a southerly wind produces a leeway of 3°. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 16 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 088°T?

Question

You are underway and intend to make good a course of 088&deg;T. You experience a current with a set and drift of 300&deg;T at 2.4 knots, and a southerly wind produces a leeway of 3&deg;. You adjust your course to compensate for the current and leeway, while maintaining an engine speed of 16 knots. What will be your speed made good over your intended course of 088&deg;T?

Accepted Answer

Option B: 13.9 knots. Compensating for current and leeway requires vector triangle resolution. The engine vector is adjusted for the 3-degree leeway and the 300-degree set/drift. Solving the triangle for the intended track of 088 degrees results in a speed made good of 13.9 knots, consistent with standard navigation problem-solving techniques.