Captain Scott's Log ~ Tuesday, May 6th,2008

7:59 AM
Subject: Batanes

20 27n 121 58e anchored under the small town of Basco and towered over by
the active volcano Mt Iraya. Gorgeous! Thank you to the many who sent me
Happy B-day wishes. Yesterday was a poster child for sailing. 15 kts out of
the west had us on a beam reach in smooth water all day. 8 kts boat speed
and a 2 kt kick in current gave us a SOG of 10 kts all day. Then at dinner
we were hit by the first squall. The wind came ahead and increased to 30. So
we spent the next 8 hrs powering into big confused seas. The seas were so
bad because of tidal rips off the north of Luzon. Full foul weather gear and it’s
not safe on deck. Tide changed and now 6 kts boat speed with 2 kts foul
current for a SOG of 4 kts. One miserable night! But we are here and as
anyone who sails knows---it’s really good when you quit. Again it’s very pretty
here. We watched cattle loaded onto an island freighter by crane---one
kicking mooing cow at a time. Dinner ashore for the boys and tomorrow we are
bound for Taiwan.

Captain Scott's Log ~ Sunday, May 4th, 2008

Subject: 69

May 5th. I'm 69yo today. Yesterday was spent in San Fernando. We anchored off
the beach and crew went ashore to get diesel, rum and clear out--3 separate
parties each with a hand held VHF. I stayed on the boat for necessary
security and ferried people all day in the dingy. Children swam out and
clamored aboard. I gave them candy which was a mistake as there was no way
to get them to leave and more kept swimming out. Soon I was baby sitting for
the town. Ashore the rum getters (NANCES) had the best luck. 5 year old
Tanduay was 15 dollars US a case--close to the cost of diesel--one dollar a
liter. Mark had the worst luck with clearing out. Lots of hassle and running
around. He was extorted out of a large amount of money and even felt
threatened. The Rum price was so unbelievable that every time someone went
ashore they came back with a case. At dusk we got a barrel of Kentucky Fried
Chicken, sampled the rum, and sailed off into the sunset. We have picked up
the N running current of 1 1/2 kt that we expect to help us all the way to
Alaska. We are now 19 degrees north (Singapore was one degree) and the
Southern Cross has sunk into the southern ocean. Tomorrow we will arrive at
Batan Island

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.