Log - New Zealand to Minerva Reef 🔱

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First Mate's Log - New Zealand to Minerva Reef 🔱. 871 nautical miles, 7 days and 2 hours.

Sunday, May 3 - We checked out at NZ customs and said goodbye to this warm, welcoming country. Bumpy as heck, headed out on a starboard haul into the wind. It is cold, but each day we head north gets warmer.

Monday May 4 -  A blur. Beating hard into 3 meter seas, and we can only stomach crackers. The guys decided to power through without seasickness pills. I take a Gravol. They throw up a lot. I am the only one with sea legs right now. Francois throws up in a bucket, I dump it in the bathroom sink, Ben fills the sink with water. We get smoked by waves. The bathroom is spattered all over -- teamwork! I ban them from the area and disinfect it.

Tuesday, May 5 - Still living off crackers mostly and the occasional apple. At some point during the night we briefly reached low gale force winds (37 knots), but it died down. With the heel and bounce of the boat, Francois and I cannot stay in our bunks, so we are swapping off the couch between watches. He got drenched during the night, but is learning wind angle and sail trim very quickly. We are headed due north (000°), sometimes northwest, as close as possible to the wind.

Wednesday, May 6 - First day we keep proper food down. Hot chilli and rice for dinner, and everyone is feeling cheerful. Francois asks fun philosophical questions, and Ben has cracked out chocolate (whoohoo!). Passed a Chinese fishing vessel 1.5nm away on my night watch. It was part of a fleet, but we didn't see the others. Their nets and wooden fish-attracting devices are hazards. Keeping eyes peeled!

Thursday, May 7 - The autopilot started roaring, and Ben and I did emergency surgery during the night to put in a temporary one. He hand-steered for 1.5 hours as it settled. We are headed in a straight rhum line northeast for Minerva Reef. The wind is down, but the swells - leftover from a tropical storm to our east - have grown to 4 meter hills. First flying fish landed on the deck!

Friday, May 8 - The seas have grown to 6 meter hillscapes. They lift us towards the sky, bringing breathtaking 360° views. I have a painful ear-ache but Ben is giving me antibiotic drops. Autopilot replacement gave out again. We heaved to and drifted for the afternoon while Francois kept watch, and Ben and I replaced the old one.This involved boat yoga in the steering compartment and rude words at the machinery, but we won in the end! A wonderful French spaghetti for dinner. Stars of the Milky Way and phosphorescence in the waves.

Saturday, May 9 - Countdown to Minerva. The VHF radio was crackling all night. We assumed it's the Chinese fishing fleet, but no ships on the horizon or radar. The wind died, and we motor sailed all day. An enormous freighter - 0.25km long on AIS 🤯- passed us. Fishing lines were out all afternoon, but no luck. We weren't completely fishless though. Just after shift change at 0200, a flying fish jumped right in the cockpit with Francois. Bonk! I threw it back overboard, lucky fish.

Sunday May 10 - Arrival day!! Big fish chomp off two lures. We put out a fresh one, and I reel in a lovely rainbow runner, just as we clear the pass into Minerva Reef. Anchor is down with 60+ meters. Ben's fresh ceviche for lunch. Yummm! We've washed down the boat and are relaxing. This is an amazing team - everyone has been cheerful and patient no matter the seasickness and sleep deprivation. 


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