Minerva Reef 23 Degrees South

Skyla on Minerva Reef

The leg from Tonga to New Zealand, a 10 day trip at most,  can be broken with a stopover at Minerva Reef, a deserted sunken atoll.  

After visiting beautiful Beveridge Reef (also a sunken atoll) we sure weren't going to miss out on this one either!  The weather does not always permit a stopover so we were holding thumbs.  

This leg ending in New Zealand is known as one of the toughest legs as the weather conditions can make it very rough.  We prepared the kids once again to know what to do in an emergency (man overboard, sinking ship and so on)  Layla tried on her gumby survival suit and had us all in fits of laughter...

Layla trying on her Gumby survival suit
 for the passage ahead if needed. (hopefully NOT!)
Always good to be prepared...

Our sail to Minerva Reef took us a few days (400 odd nautical miles) and the weather was beautiful. On arrival we were surprised to find 15 other yachts anchored in the reef waiting for a weather window to New Zealand.  We met up with some old friends and made new ones as we enjoyed what Minerva had to offer.

Chris (on the spreader) directing me (at the helm) through any coral heads and reefs

Sunset at Minerva Reef

The first evening there the sunset was spectacular.  The following morning we arose early to catch the low tide enabling us to visit the exposed reef and walk over it to dive for lobster on the far side of the reef.

Rourke looking fwd to finding us some lobster on the reef

so peaceful and desolate… I enjoyed taking photos of life on the reef, see below...

the lobster are out there

the tide rushing in...

yachts anchored in the background

Phenomenal colors

Chris and Rourke brought home the dinner, dived from the outside of the reef

At high tide this reef is completely submerged.

such a beautiful place to photograph 

Layla taking the seadoo scooter for a spin

Skyla off for a dive in the impossibly blue water inside Minerva Reef

Feast!  look at how glassy the water was inside the reef...

ANOTHER favorite spot!

With the Pacific Cyclone Season fast approaching we have to start our final stretch of 800 miles to New Zealand where we will wait out the season.  We are sad to be leaving the warm tropical waters behind but are also excited to sail further south and visit The Land of the Long White Cloud!

A hearty welcome to readers in Oman :)   This makes the total number of COUNTRIES around the globe, with readers of this blog, 84!  Considering there are around 200 countries in the world, this is amazeballs! (expression of enthusiastic approval!)