November 15-19, 2014
If you’ve never heard of Minerva Reef, please google it.
Logbook – November 15, 2014 (Tonga to North Minerva Reef)
Passage Log
- 0658 Engines on
- 0705 Depart Tonga
- 0717 SB engine off
- P engine + Genniker
- 0830 SB engine on
- 0853 Engines off. Main + genoa.
- 1858 Main + genoa
Logbook – November 16, 2014 (Tonga to North Minerva Reef)
Passage Log
- 0110 Main + Genniker
- 0317 Main + Genniker
- 0428 P engine onn
- 0556 P engine off
- 0823 P engine on – Main only
- 1154 P engine off. Main + genniker.
- 1620 SB engine on
- 1851 SB engine + Main + genniker
Daily Notes
- Dorado!
- Nasty current 1.5 kt
Email to family and friends dated November 16, 2014
Subject: Exodus – fast, then slow, then engine up
To summarize our passage to Minerva so far:
First 18 hours – fast and furious. Winds 15-22 kts close hauled, boat speed 7-8 kts. We didn’t reef the sails going into the night like we usually do because 1) The weather wasn’t squally and 2) The wind was supposed to die.
Next 12 hours – slow and determined. As expected, the winds died in the night, but mostly we were able to sail, with just a couple dead spots where we ran an engine, also to charge batteries. The seas calmed down and the boat was much more comfortable.
Ever since – engine up. We finally engined up yesterday afternoon when we were going only about 1/2 knot. I told Tim there would be mutiny if we actually started to go backwards (we had a 1.5 kt current against us).
We are still motoring, but the current has gotten better, so maybe we can arrive before dark. There’s no surprise that we’re motoring. I said before we left that if we departed on Sat morning we’d probably have to motor the last 1/4 to 1/2 of the way. If we want to sail all the way we would have needed to wait a few more days. But then we’d miss the calm weather at Minerva, so we went for it. But going into it eyes wide doesn’t make it any better and we are still hoping for a faulty forecast and a little bit of wind to push us there today.
The boys are standing night watches for the first time on this passage… Brenden 8-10pm and Alex 10pm-midnight with Tim sleeping in the salon. Alex had a hard time staying up last night, but hopefully he’ll sleep in today so he can stay up tonight in case we don’t get there in time.
We were like a parade of boats leaving Tongatapu, and I’m not sure there’s anyone still there. Some boats are stopping and Minerva and some are pressing on to NZ without stopping. This morning we still have 2 boats in AIS range, and a few more within VHF range.
Love and miss you all,
-D.
Logbook – November 17, 2014 (Tonga to North Minerva Reef)
Passage Log
- 0350 SB engine + main. Current better.
- 1004 SB engine + main + genoa
- 1208 SB engine – no sails
- 1526 P engine on
- 1550 Engines off. Arrive N. Minerva
Daily Notes
- Arrived at Minerva. T/B in the water immediately diving outside the pass
- Excitement on all the boats re: huge tiger shark
- We are here w/ Fluenta, Iguana, Nautilus, and Lumbaz. Breeze & Koa on other side of lagoon.
Logbook – November 18, 2014 (North Minerva Reef)
Daily Notes
- Family snorkel/spearfish. B shot a bigeye jack – cleaned it and fed it to the sharks. also shot an almaco jack – took the bolt. Great snorkeling – like Sea of Cortez, bug fish just swam right up to you. To cold, though.
- Party on s/v Nirvana for Julie’s birthday
- Fluenta kids over to play Risk
- T/A lobstering
Email to family and friends dated November 18, 2014
Subject: Exodus – North Minerva Reef
We’ve been here almost 2 days now, and I’ve been reluctant to write, because I’m not really sure I can adequately describe this place. I was thinking that maybe I’ve started becoming numb to the amazingly beautiful places we get to visit, but if so, this place has shaken me back to my senses. I’ve taken to just sitting in the cockpit and soaking it all in, totally undistracted.
It is basically just a ring of coral out here in the middle of the ocean. From a distance you can see that it is there by the waves crashing against the reef. This sort of place was definitely a navigation hazard prior to GPS as it would be virtually invisible at night with nothing to give off a radar signature, unless the surf was really big, I suppose. But since we have GPS and accurate charts and waypoints from cruisers who came before us, we entered the pass into the reef and plopped our anchor down just inside.
We are fortunate enough to be here during very sunny and calm weather, so we are feeling a little better about burning all the diesel to get here. The water inside the lagoon is shallow, and it’s like sitting on a giant swimming pool with the most beautiful turquoise water you’ve ever seen. Our first day here we were all entertained by a huge tiger shark that made it’s rounds visiting all the boats as they cleaned their fish, and I didn’t see this, but I heard that occasionally he would get really riled up and start ramming the dinghies. The squeals from all the kids as he was doing this must have been audible from quite a ways away. Our first night here two of the kid boats went out lobstering on the reefs, and again, the squeals were quite entertaining. Tim and Jack didn’t go that first night, I don’t know, I guess they were tired from the really tough passage we had. Anyway, they collected 75, I’m not kidding, 75 lobsters. They shared them with the whole anchorage and then had a lobster and cocktails party yesterday evening to celebrate a birthday. It was a lot of fun. Tim and Alex went out lobstering last night and they are still sleeping so I haven’t gotten a report yet, but I did notice our lobster bag hanging off the back is more full than it was yesterday. I guess we are having lobster for lunch and dinner, oh yeah, in addition to the Almaco Jack that Iguana gave us. And there’s the rest of that Mahi Mahi in the fridge too. We are once again living in seafood paradise.
We went out snorkeling and spearfishing as a family yesterday, and as soon as Brenden was in the water he shot a really nice looking fish. Tim was so excited, he was yelling, in that proud/excited dad way, for me to throw him the go-pro, “just throw it!” LOL. Turns out it was a big eye trevally, not so tasty, so after Brenden cleaned it and we realized what it was, he fed it to the shark. I didn’t see this one, but Brenden keeps talking about it, the one that got away. Apparently he shot a huge Almaco Jack, but it was stronger than him, and it took his spear. I think he probably dreamt about that fish last night.
The snorkeling was pretty amazing. The colors of the coral, mostly hard coral, rivaled anything we’ve seen so far, but there were so many more fish. And not just the tiny reef fish, it was like back in the Sea of Cortez where the huge parrot fish and groupers aren’t afraid of you and they just swim right up to you. The only downside is that it was cold. Air and water temp are just a couple degrees cooler here than in Tonga. I don’t think I’ll be doing any diving in New Zealand.
Sadly, our friends on Iguana have left us, because they have a friend with them helping with the passage, and he needs to catch a flight in New Zealand. So, once again, Tim is left without a fishing buddy, and there aren’t any more island packets in the fleet so I’m not sure what he’s going to do. He got over this breakup much more quickly and he was out in the dinghy making the rounds to see some of the other guys who also like to spear fish, so maybe a bond will grow rapidly here in the next day or so. Lol!
I’ve already written way too much, but I’ll close by saying we may leave tomorrow. Or maybe not.
Love and miss you all,
-D.
Logbook – November 19, 2014 (North Minerva Reef)
Daily Notes
- T – hooka and spearfish. Lobster for lunch
- D – paddle – followed by sharks
Email to family and friends dated November 19, 2014
Subject: Exodus – Lobsters
Alex and Tim and a successful lobstering night last night and came home with 12 lobsters. Even more importantly, by setting a good example they were able to influence the rest of the fleet to not take the females with eggs. Tim said he shared his philosophy with a couple guys, and they must have talked to others, because by the time they were getting ready to head back in the dinghies, everyone was throwing the females back. I am very happy and proud about this, because it is so important for the health of the population.
Boats are slowly trickling out today, but there is still no wind here. I am sad as each boat leaves because I know this special time is ending. This group of boats that we’ve been with in Tongatapu and now Minerva have been really great, and for the first time in awhile I feel like we’ve really forged some lifelong friendships.
I will update if we don’t end up leaving tomorrow.
Love and miss you all,
-D.
Gresham Family Exodus 