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departure 1. The distance between two meridians at any given parallel of latitude, expressed in linear units, usually nautical miles; the distance to the east or west made good by a craft in proceeding from one point to another. 2. The point at which reckoning of a voyage begins. It is usually established by bearings of prominent landmarks as the vessel clears a harbor and proceeds to sea. The process of "taking your departure" means recoding the bearing to the last land in sight and recoding with that an estimate of the distance off when it fell out of sight.

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