Position: 19 degrees, 45 minutes south; 179 degrees, 26 minutes west

(By Ann) No, it was not as bold and fierce as the “the Bear” that chased us a few nights ago. It was much gentler, but I saw it…and welcomed it. It was a sign from the heavens that tonight was going to be a glorious night!

It started with the new moon smiling at us just after sunset, right before it plunged into the horizon gone for the night. This is probably the first passage that we have made that has been moon-less. Not because of overcast skies but because the moon was waning. It quickly disappeared and our nights have been inky dark. But there is a benefit to this lack of moon. The stars up their game. Seriously, I have to work to find the Southern Cross because it is NOT the only bright star. Thousands of them up their game and sparkle brighter to make up for the lack of moonlight. And that was my second clue, after the smiling moon…a star winked at me about 10 PM just as my watch was getting tedious. But I caught it and winked back. Hello star! Thanks for the greeting! And so that is how our night played out. Moon-less but star filled. Charisma was sailing through the Milky Way on a beautiful beam reach playing in the light swell. Glorious.

The best way to enjoy all of it? I will admit, at day nine of this passage my rear end is getting tired of sitting, so I laid back in the cockpit and watched as the mast played connect the dots with the brilliant stars. Bob and I once were up at the family ranch as a full moon was rising and wanted to really see it so we went out at 11 PM and laid in the road leading up to the ranch, away from any hint of light, to fully appreciate the glory of the heavens. Not only was it quite chilly but the ground was really hard and there was no gentle rolling motion to accompany the display. And honestly, the display of stars at the ranch, depite being out in the country away from lights, does not compare to a moon-less night on the ocean. Words do not do it justice.

I walk out of the bathroom in the dark and head to the companionway and look up to see the helm glowing from the light of the compass dancing in front of a back drop of incredible glory. There is no way to capture the raw beauty in a photo. I will have to make a mental picture and remind myself of it often to keep it sharp.

Hello moon, hello stars, thanks for the notice that it was going to be a glorious night.

P.S. (From Bob) We just want to say “Happy Birthday” to my daughter, Kelly, who is 23 on the 31st AND is graduating from college in a couple weeks. Yay, Kelly!