You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 10 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 90 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 10 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?

Question

You are underway on course 050&deg;T and your maximum speed is 10 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100&deg;T, 90 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285&deg;T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 10 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?

Accepted Answer

Option C: 53 miles. Applying vector relative motion analysis from Bowditch, plot the hurricane's true movement and your vessel's maximum speed triangle. The geometric limit of closest point of approach (CPA) achievable while avoiding the storm track at 10 knots yields a maximum safe CPA of 53 miles.

You are underway on course 050&deg;T and your maximum speed is 10 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100&deg;T, 90 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285&deg;T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 10 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?

You are underway on course 050°T and your maximum speed is 10 knots. The eye of a hurricane bears 100°T, 90 miles from your position. The hurricane is moving towards 285°T at 19 knots. If you maneuver at 10 knots to avoid the hurricane, what could be the maximum CPA?