24 October 2024 –Tonga -Tongapatu to New Zealand -Day 2

Keith Watson (Watty for short) and I were on at 11.00pm to 2.00am. The wind was a little less but the waves rolled under us and they were about 3 meters. It was a dark night with cloud, no moon or stars and little to light up the sky. We did, however, have two yachts ahead of us which we were gradually catching and must have been from the group who we saw leaving earlier that day. During our shift we gradually got closer and could see a tricolour light but they were still some miles ahead when we handed over. As we handed over one of the yachts called us on the radio and we had a quick chat and we assured them we could see them and were not going to come too close.

We did see a cruise ship appear on the chart plotter some 20+ miles away and we could see the glow from its lights over the horizon as it steamed down our starboard side at about 15nm. We were trying to maintain an average of 7 kts an hour and we had two 7’s and one 6 for each hour of our watch.

We then had a sleep and Carolyn and Erika took over and then Keith W (not Watty) and Joyce took over. Watty and I took over at 8.00am again and we decided to replace the staysail with the genoa and this increased our speed. I think the waves had calmed down a bit overnight which was good.

Watty made bacon and egg butties (you can tell he is back on board!) to keep us going and then we had a nice coffee. We did our daily checks and checked the weather and our course and we were doing well and a few hours ahead of schedule.

Keith W made lunch, coleslaw, salad, cheese etc and by this time we had passed the two yachts we had seen in the night and there were two more ahead, which we began to close in on. The wind, however, was gradually pushing us more south than southeast as it was coming round to northeast. We had planned to leave the Minerva Reef to port but due to the wind we now had to sail to leave it to starboard but that is fine because we were going to turn more south when we passed the Minerva Reef.  We did 180nm in our first 24 hours to 12.00noon which is not bad.

The Minerva Reefs (Tongan: Ongo Teleki) are a group of two submerged atolls located in the Pacific Ocean between Fiji, Niue and Tonga. The islands are the subject of a territorial dispute between Fiji and Tonga, and in addition were briefly claimed by American Libertarians as the centre of a micronation, the Republic of Minerva.

The reefs were named after the whaleship Minerva, wrecked on what became known as South Minerva after setting out from Sydney in 1829. Many other ships would follow.

The reefs were first known to Europeans by the crew of the brig Rosalia, commanded by Lieutenant John Garland, which was shipwrecked there in 1807. The Oriental Navigator for 1816 recorded Garland's discovery under the name Rosaretta Shoal, warning that it was “a dangerous shoal, on which the Rosaretta, a prize belonging to his Majesty's ship Cornwallis, was wrecked on her passage from Pisco, in Peru, to Port Jackson, in 1807”. It noted that it was “composed of hard coarse sand and coral”, a description that must have come from Garland's report. The reefs were put on the charts by Captain John Nicholson of LMS Haweis in December 1818 as reported in The Sydney Gazette 30 January 1819.

There are two reefs namely -North Reef diameter about 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi), South Reef diameter of about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi). Terrain: two atolls on dormant volcanic seamounts.

Both Minerva Reefs are about 485 kilometres (301 mi) southwest of the Tongatapu Group. The atolls are on a common submarine platform from 549 to 1,097 metres (1,801 to 3,599 ft) below sea level. North Minerva is circular in shape and has a diameter of about 6.8 kilometres (4.2 mi). There is a small sand bar around the atoll, awash at high tide, and a small entrance into the flat lagoon with a somewhat deep harbour. South Minerva is parted into The East Reef and the West Reef, both circular with a diameter of about 4.8 kilometres (3.0 mi). Remnants of shipwrecks and platforms remain on the atolls, plus functioning navigation beacons.

Geologically, the Minerva Reefs are of a limestone base formed from uplifted coral formations elevated by now-dormant volcanic activity.

Both North and South Minerva Reefs are used as anchorages by private yachts traveling between New Zealand and Tonga or Fiji  which is why I am explaining about them as they could be a place of refuge (the only one on this passage). North Minerva (Tongan: Teleki Tokelau) offers the more protected anchorage, with a single, easily negotiated, west-facing pass that offers access to the large, calm lagoon with extensive sandy areas. South Minerva (Tongan: Teleki Tonga) is in shape similar to an infinity symbol, with its eastern lobe partially open to the ocean on the northern side.

The afternoon wore on and we continued to make good progress. The wind continued to be more northeasterly and we sailed the best course we could. It then began to decline a bit so we are going as fast as we can and hope it will continue at a good strength.

Watty and I heated up some pre-prepared spaghetti bolognaise with some broccoli and noodles which filled us well. We have noticed the temperature has dropped and we are now having to wear jackets and jumpers etc.

We hope to continue to make good miles in the night and we are surrounded by other boats which we can see on the chart plotter and tonight’s picture of the day is what we are seeing as I write this.

Opportunity Year Two

In year two I will be going from New Zealand in early January 2025 across to Sydney and up the Eastern Australian Coast, Indonesia and then through Bali, Singapore and on to Thailand to end year two about the end of November 2025. I will need some more crew.

If there is any interest do email me at  hine.nick9@gmail.com  

The blog will continue as we move through French Polynesia and beyond. If you have any comments or suggestions about the blog then do email me on hine.nick9@gmail.com