A vessel at LAT 07°05'N, LONG 81°45'W is to proceed to LAT 08°40'N, LONG 88°00'W. What are the course and distance by mid-latitude sailing?

Correct Answer: Option A — 284.3°T, 384.6 miles

Mid-latitude sailing approximates the Earth as a plane for short distances. Calculate the difference in latitude and departure (DLo * cos(MidLat)). The course is the arctangent of departure over difference in latitude, and distance is the secant of the course times the difference in latitude, yielding 284.3°T and 384.6 miles.