Captain Scott's Log ~ Saturday, May 3rd, 2008

Subject: Out of Manila

" Bong" and Butch continued to wine and dine us. On Friday we were taken in
3 cars to another Japanese restaurant that specialized in noodles. That night
we had a crew dinner at the yacht club. "Bong" and Butch were at a club
meeting and kept sending out bottles of rum and wine for our table. Butch
also called customs in San Fernando where we will clear out. He announced
now you will have no problems. Everyone, except Jeff, had just enough sense
to go to bed. On the 3rd we departed in flat calm at 8am. Jeff slept till
2pm. Manila Bay takes 5 hours to get out of but at least the gross pollution
and massive litter gradually improves. Big thunder storms around but we were
not bothered until sunset. Smog cut visibility to 3 miles. Solid overcast
and a moonless night meant we felt our way past countless fishing boats using
the night scope and radar. Lightning flashes became almost continuous and
rain could be seen on radar bearing down. Some tense moments as we flew by
dug out canoes but by 2 am the skies cleared. Moon rise one hour before
sunrise was special with the thinnest crescent of light on the bottom and the
sphere looking large on the horizon and orange in the haze. Tracy and I
agreed it was the best ever. Now dawn on the 4th and San Fernando Just
ahead.