Malua is at 12:40.07N 51:31.9W at 1200 UTC on 8/12/2012

Distance covered 2432

Distance to go 475

Daily run 156

Along with the wind came the clouds and with the clouds the rain.  First light rain then heavier showers and as always with the rain came the wind so we moved along at a very nice pace thank you.  The speedo was reading 7 knots and many times 8.4 knots Malua’s maximum hull speed.

The miles just slipped away and when I look at the chart plotter map I can see our destination in the bottom right hand corner.   We can see where we are going.  The vessels on the westward net are arriving at their destinations having set off from the Cape Verde island at about the same time we left the Canaries.  Many have still a day or two to go before they reach Antigua.  Those are the yachts that are heading back to the States after a round the world trip so every mile covered is a mile close to the end of the dream and home.  They express mixed feelings.

The ARC boat have had a dream run with wind consistently in the upper 20 knots.  Sundancer the cunning dog of 30 Sydney to Hobart race is gaining on Charm Offensive who it seems to break some gear every time we talk on the net.  They need to be careful the dancer may just beat them to the finish.

Last night I was aroused out of my watch mode by the alarm of the AIS.  I haven't heard that for some time.  It was a cargo vessel coming right at us at 11 knots and only five miles away.  I could clearly see the vessel but could not make out their lights except the red port light.  I called the vessel and got an answer who stated “Yes he could see me on his Starboard bow”  I of course was on his port bow.  I told him my coarse but he seemed to think I was going the same way as him.  After a discussion that we should pass port to port I settled down to watch him on the radar pass 1.5 miles off my port quarter.  I then noticed that the reason I could not make out his direction was he was not showing the proper lights.  After some discussion I informed him to turn on his mast head light.  OK OK.  Then as clear as day the light came on and I saw exactly the direction he was going and how far off he was.  Luckily we had AIS and radar.  In the old days there would have been panic on board but there again a cargo ship would have a Master who would have the right lights on as he steamed the wide oceans.

A magical moment on Malua