# Chart Plot Chesapeake Approach **URL:** \ **Category:** Maritime Training & Licensing\ **Created:** [October 27, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059 "2026-10-27T04:24:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![BrennTheNavigator](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/brennthenavigator/32/8232_2.png) [@BrennTheNavigator](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/BrennTheNavigator)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 4:24am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/1 "2026-10-27T04:24:46Z")
I’m working the sample exam chart plot (2/3m Unltd.) for the Ches Approach found here: [https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/examinations/q115\_nav\_problems\_chart\_12221TR.pdf](https://www.dco.uscg.mil/Portals/9/NMC/pdfs/examinations/q115_nav_problems_chart_12221TR.pdf) Question 1 establishes you 0530 position. This is then updated in question 2 for a 0540 position and course change. The 0540 position is stated as fact, i.e. YOU ARE HERE. Question 5 then asks: At 0620, steering 219°pgc and turning for 14.5 knots, Chesapeake Light is bearing 191°pgc and Cape Charles Light is bearing 276°pgc. What is the set and drift between 0530 and 0620 The correct answer, per the CG, is determined from the 0530 position. But in what world do we ignore the fact that at 0540 we have an absolutely fixed position? How is the correct solution not found by plotting the current derived from your course and distance made good between 0540, your last previous fix, and 0620 your current fix? We all know how tricky these exams can be and one would think the CG expects to catch you forgetting the 0540 fix and course change using the 0530 position as the starting point for your CmG, especially knowing that these questions build upon previous ones. Plotting the set and drift from 0530 instead of 0540 fix would be navigational negligence. This has me absolutely fuming. I know the question references 0530, but I cannot let the 0540 fix go on this one. Does anyone have a different take? ---
**Author:** ![chuckspence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@chuckspence](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/chuckspence)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 12:06pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/2 "2026-10-27T12:06:09Z")
The hyperlink you provided indicates a sample exam chart plot for 2026 which is for chart 13205TR and not 12221TR. By looking on the cover page of the plot you are working on, you will find the year the sample chart plot was issued. It should indicate somewhere between 2016 - 2026. ---
**Author:** ![BrennTheNavigator](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/brennthenavigator/32/8232_2.png) [@BrennTheNavigator](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/BrennTheNavigator)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 4:00pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/3 "2026-10-27T16:00:21Z")
Ahhhh dang it, I had both sample tests up on my laptop and in my agitated state, copied the wrong one to the thread. The “correct” one is linked now. ---
**Author:** ![BrennTheNavigator](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/brennthenavigator/32/8232_2.png) [@BrennTheNavigator](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/BrennTheNavigator)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 4:04pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/4 "2026-10-27T16:04:46Z")
Also, point of order to the fact that the course plotted on question 2 that yields the correct answer takes you on the shoal side of buoy R14 despite the question explicitly telling you to keep it to stbd. Am I going crazy here?? ---
**Author:** ![chuckspence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@chuckspence](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/chuckspence)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 4:17pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/5 "2026-10-27T16:17:29Z")
I am still missing the link that you are speaking about. got it ---
**Author:** ![chuckspence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@chuckspence](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/chuckspence)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 10:28pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/6 "2026-10-27T22:28:33Z")
> [@BrennTheNavigator](#): > > The correct answer, per the CG, is determined from the 0530 position. But in what world do we ignore the fact that at 0540 we have an absolutely fixed position? As mariners our mindset at sea is to consider everything cumulative. However, in testing the USCG is developing a question on a specific task & skill set. You are correct that in question 2, we were give a 5:40 fix for the question on applying leeway. Question 5 change the task to determine set and drift from 5:30 to 6:20. So we are told to ignore the NW breeze and its 6 degree leeway and provide a solution for a new task & skill set. Now it is your turn to determine if I am crazy. ---
**Author:** ![chuckspence](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8dc957/32.png) [@chuckspence](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/chuckspence)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2026, 11:20pm UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/7 "2026-10-27T23:20:03Z")
> [@BrennTheNavigator](#): > > Also, point of order to the fact that the course plotted on question 2 that yields the correct answer takes you on the shoal side of buoy R14 despite the question explicitly telling you to keep it to stbd. Am I going crazy here?? Respectfully consider this as a stand-alone task and skill leeway problem. Where were experiencing a northwesterly breeze and producing a 6° leeway. Working the solution: Remembering that the wind is identified as where it is coming from e.g., the NW. So we need to steer into the wind by 6 degrees base on the true course from our 05:40 position to .3 nm North of NCA buoy. What was the true course? Now using th true course and applying the 6° to it we have solved for a true course to compensate for the wind. However, there are no answers reflecting true courses. So we move to the next hurdle, which needs to be change to PGC using the Gyro Error provide as 2°W. This should produce the solution represented as answer D. The theory is that a wind coming from the NW should move the vessel SE and thus pass buoy “14” down the starboard side. Now it is your turn to tell me what I am missing and I am going crazy. ---
**Author:** ![BrennTheNavigator](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/brennthenavigator/32/8232_2.png) [@BrennTheNavigator](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/BrennTheNavigator)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 8:08am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/8 "2026-10-28T08:08:28Z")
> [@chuckspence](#): > > However, in testing the USCG is developing a question on a specific task & skill set. You are correct that in question 2, we were give a 5:40 fix for the question on applying leeway. > > Question 5 change the task to determine set and drift from 5:30 to 6:20. So we are told to ignore the NW breeze and its 6 degree leeway and provide a solution for a new task & skill set. As far as I am concerned, the only way to work this problem would be to derive your CmG from 0620 back to 0540 at which point the leeway becomes irrelevant. These plots are supposed to simulate a sequential, real-world voyages. Assuming you have been steering 219 pgc since 0540 (not 0530 as this was given to you in question 2 as your position thus superseding the 0530 fix), you plot DR from 0540 to 0620, which gives you your set, as well as drift once you scale the 40 minutes up to an hour. Plotting from 0540 to 0620 gives you the best time frame to determine set and drift since you do not have enough information to calculate S&D between 0530 to 0540, and given the short span of time involved here, I say would be acceptable. The problem here is that the CG, notorious for throwing in little gotcha moments, would normally set the trap for you to neglect the 0540 position and start your CmG plot from 0530. This makes no sense. It would be a different matter if they told you explicitly to forget about the 0540 position and corresponding course change which they do not do. My point is S&D from 0540 to 0620 should be more or less the same as S&D between 0530 to 0620 and in asking for the S&D between 0530 to 0620, the CG does not instruct you to ignore the 0540 position or course change. ---
**Author:** ![jdcavo](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex016/user_avatar/forum.gcaptain.com/jdcavo/32/108_2.png) [@jdcavo](https://forum.gcaptain.com/u/jdcavo)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2026, 10:15am UTC](https://forum.gcaptain.com/t/chart-plot-chesapeake-approach/78059/9 "2026-10-28T10:15:49Z")
> [@BrennTheNavigator](#): > > The problem here is that the CG, notorious for throwing in little gotcha moments Like recognizing common errors and having an answer choice that corresponds to someone making that error? Yes, they do that.