Tongatapu to Minerva Reef Passage Summary

Hi everyone,

Here is a summary of our 260nm passage between the Tongan island of Tongatapu and North Minerva Reef.  We sailed in close company with UK OCC SV Thestral.  It was a great passage with ESE 15G20 fading to ENE 10G15.  We departed two miles behind Thestral and arrived 10 miles behind - not bad considering they're a 43 footer.

Anchored inside North Minerva Reef

Here are the usual plots...

Track

Arrival

Graphs

Here are the vital stats for the passage…

    • Distances/Speeds

        • Route Distance = 264 nm

        • Logged Distance = 258 nm

        • GPS Distance = 278 nm

        • Duration = 2 days 2 hours

        • Average speed = 5.2 kt

        • Minimum boat speed = 4.0 kt

        • Maximum boat speed = 6.3 kt

    • Weather

        • Minimum wind speed = 10 kt

        • Average wind speed = 15 knots

        • Maximum wind speed = 20 with gusts to 27

        • Apparent wind angle range = 120 to 150

        • Seas 1-2m

        • Swell 2m

        • Cloud varying from 2/8 to 8/8

        • New moon

    • Engine

        • Total = 1 hour

        • Driving = 1 hour

        • Charging = 0 hours

    • Failures

        • None

    • Stars

        • The boat - as always

Kami the autopilot in control

We had a nice broad reach under double-reefed main and single-furled yankee for the first 36 hours, staying within 5nm of Thestral.  Last night the wind eased and backed which forced us to head up while Thestral maintained their course.  We shook out a reef and unfurled the full yankee.  Both Kazi the WindPilot vane gear and Kami the autopilot did good work.

The initial approach to North Minerva Reef is interesting because the first thing you spot are the anchored yacht masts.  Then their hulls and the reefs appear.  The pass is wide and deep, or at least much wider and deeper than many in the Tuamotus.  And within the reef depths are consistent at around 20m.

View NE in the pass

View SW in the pass

As we motored across the lagoon towards the anchored boats we recognised several friends.  There were about 15 yachts already here.  Further boats are expected to gather here over the next day or two.  Many will probably be staying for about a week since there's currently no weather window for the passage south to New Zealand.  We anchored in 14m over sand.

We're looking forward to a lazy few days here.  Winds are predicted to be light.  Hopefully we'll finish off our hull cleaning and do some exploring.

Trust all's well where you are!