Your vessel's position should be plotted using bearings of what?

The correct answer is based on the fundamental principle of navigation, which is to determine a vessel's position by referencing fixed known positions on land. These fixed positions, such as landmarks or navigational aids, serve as reliable points to establish a vessel's location on a chart. Bearings taken from these landmarks provide accurate orientation and distance information, which can then be used to plot a vessel’s position with confidence.

Using fixed known positions is essential because they are consistent and do not change over time, allowing navigators to obtain a stable and repeatable reference point. This method is particularly useful when navigating in coastal waters or near land, where identifiable landmarks can be used to confirm the vessel's whereabouts.

Other options, while they may have navigational relevance, do not provide the same level of accuracy for plotting a position. Floating markers may change locations or be subject to tidal effects; relative wind direction does not indicate a vessel's position on a chart; and charted water depths, while important for safe navigation, do not provide geographic positioning in the same way that known land points do.