True bearing is the angle between the direction the bow is pointed and the bearing of the object.

True bearing is the angle between the direction the bow is pointed and the bearing of the object.

• A. It is the angle between the stern and the object
• B. It is the angle between geographic north and the object's bearing
• C. True
• D. False

Answer: (D)

In navigation, bearings are referenced to different lines. True bearing uses geographic (true) north as the reference and is the angle measured clockwise from true north to the line of sight to the object. The angle between the direction the bow is pointed and the line to the object is the relative bearing (the bearing from the ship’s heading). Because true bearing is anchored to true north, not to the ship’s bow, the statement is not correct. For example, if your bow points east and the object is due north, the true bearing to the object is 0 degrees (north), while the angle from the bow to the object—your relative bearing—would be 90 degrees. Magnetic bearing uses magnetic north, adding another layer of reference.

In navigation, bearings are referenced to different lines. True bearing uses geographic (true) north as the reference and is the angle measured clockwise from true north to the line of sight to the object. The angle between the direction the bow is pointed and the line to the object is the relative bearing (the bearing from the ship’s heading). Because true bearing is anchored to true north, not to the ship’s bow, the statement is not correct. For example, if your bow points east and the object is due north, the true bearing to the object is 0 degrees (north), while the angle from the bow to the object—your relative bearing—would be 90 degrees. Magnetic bearing uses magnetic north, adding another layer of reference.