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Firefly - Rough Passage to North Minerva



Up until this afternoon (Thursday 7th May 2015) its been too rough to contemplate writing a blog. However, the wind is finally on the beam as opposed to being well in front, the sun is out and we have 18 knots of breeze and finally Firefly is going really fast. Its less than 150 miles to North Minerva Reef and we will be anchoring inside the lagoon from tomorrow.

Due to the conditions its taken a full day longer to cover the distance but the timing should now work out well, enabling us to enter the entrance to the lagoon when the sun is high. The original plan was also to first make a stop at South Minerva some 20 miles closer to NZ. However, John Martin the ICA rally leader on his boat Windflower has advised (via e mail that we pick up using our SSB radio) that with the forecast conditions that the north reef is the best one to choose.

Despite being treated to up to 25 knot winds on a close hauled course for about 4 days it could have been even worse if the wind had followed what my gribfiles were forecasting. Normally very reliable, the GFS model gribfiles I have been downloading via sailmail on this trip have been way off. They have constantly been predicting that the wind would be East North East as opposed to East South East - had that been the case we would be at least another day behind.

Sailing two up in these conditions has been quite testing although we have had plenty of sleep. The only good place to be when not on watch is in the leeward saloon bunk. Being in the middle and low down in the boat as its is very heeled over - makes it the best place to be as it moves least. Out in the cockpit its been really rough and wet but in that bunk its fine.

Since the wind filled in a day or so after we left Opua in the Bay of Islands, NZ, we have been on starboard tack. Starboard works best on Firefly as the galley is downhill so preparing drinks and food is only 'impossible', not 'completely impossible'. Susie prepared food for the trip in advance and it has been essential as cooking from scratch would have been very difficult.

We are not sure how many days we will stay on anchor inside Minerva Reef, probably about 2 or 3. The next destination is Pangai in the Haapai Group of Tonga where we will do the official customs and immigration check in. Its another passage of 350 miles and the course is even more east of north than this current leg from NZ. We are back in the easterly trade wind belt again and so on the next passage we really want to wait for the wind to be tending to blow relatively gently from the south east.

Not discovered until relatively recently (although this what we were told and has not been confirmed) Minerva is a popular place for yachts to stop en route to both Tonga and Fiji. Both countries in fact claim they own it. There is no land as such but at low water the reef is visible and you can go ashore and land on it as it has a flat rocky surface (not coral). I think we have a cricket match and a masquerade ball scheduled which will certainly be interesting.

Paul and Susie



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