Which option best answers the question ‘Where am I going?’ in navigation?

• A. Determine direction/course
• B. Determine position
• C. Determine distance
• D. Determine speed

Answer: (A)

To answer “Where am I going?” you need to specify the direction you will steer to reach your destination—the course. The course represents the intended path or bearing from your current position to the place you’re aiming for, so it directly answers the question of where you’re headed.

Position tells you where you are now, distance tells you how far the destination is, and speed tells you how fast you’re moving. None of those indicate the route you plan to follow, which is why they don’t answer where you’re going. For example, if the harbor lies to the east, your course is eastward; you’d steer along that bearing and adjust for wind, current, and leeway to stay on course.