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Minerva Reef – It’s Not Just A Refuge. It’s A Destination

Boats Waiting For A Weather Window In Minerva Reef
Boats Waiting For A Weather Window At Minerva Reef

Because of the weather cycles and the length if the trip between Tonga and NZ, many boats making the passage first head to North Minerva Reef and then wait for the right window to complete the trip to NZ.

Minerva Reef - October 2014 - Reef View

North Minerva is a circular reef approximately  2.5 miles around with one entry pass.  It’s a volcano that never made it to the surface, but just a few tenths of feet below.

Minerva Reef - October 2014 - Coral (1)

Eventually, the caldera collapsed forming a lagoon and a reef grew along its rim.  Due to up-thrust of the earths’ crust, the reef has been pushed near enough to the water line enough to be exposed at low tide.

Lisa On The Reef  Image Courtesy The Captain
Lisa On The Reef
Image Courtesy The Captain

Some boats consider bypassing Minerva altogether to quicken their trip to NZ.  We chose to visit.

Minerva Reef - October 2014 - Coral (2)

When we arrived at North Minerva on Oct 29, some of the boats in the anchorage  were following the advice of Gulf Harbor Radio and setting sail that day for NZ.

The Captain On The Reef
The Captain On The Reef

We needed to make a decision whether to go with this weather window or wait for the next one.   A poll of the 13 boats in the anchorage indicated only 5 were lifting anchor.

Minerva Reef - October 2014 - Coral (3)

Weather gribs seemed to indicate that the winds would be light during this ‘window’, requiring a great deal of motoring.  A subsequent window seemed possible on November 1st.

Minerva Reef - October 2014 -- Clam

These facts, coupled with our desire to explore this remote, expansive reef in ‘the middle of the middle of nowhere’  made us decide to wait.

Me And My Shadow On Minerva Reef
Me And My Shadow On Minerva Reef

We’re glad that we did.

Minerva Reef - October 2014 - Coral (4)

We  readied Amandla for arrival in NZ and enjoyed a sundowner on SV Kailani.

Inlet
Inlet

Our friends from SV Viandante gave us one of the large lobsters that they’d caught at 4:00 am while we were comfortably dreaming in our bunks.

Lisa On The Reef (2)  Image Courtesy Of The Captain
Lisa On The Reef (2)
Image Courtesy Of The Captain

Minerva Reef - October 2014 - Coral (5)

And best of all, we spent three wonderful days visiting the pristine reef on foot and (The Captain) with snorkel.  We explored on our own and with our friends Theodora and Hunor, the crew of SY Victoria.

Minerva Reef - October 2014 - Coral (6)

North Minerva Reef is one of those places that makes traveling by sailboat so special because you can’t get their by commercial airline or cruise ship.

Image Courtesy The Captain
Inlet ( – Image Courtesy The Captain

If you are sailing the South Pacific, make sure to visit North Minerva Reef. You’ll be glad you did!

Me And The Captain's Shadow - Image Courtesy The Captain
Me And The Captain’s Shadow – Image Courtesy The Captain

Written At Sea – November 1, 2014

2 comments Minerva Reef – It’s Not Just A Refuge. It’s A Destination

The reef is INCREDIBLY beautiful.. the purple colors are just…WOW. Is the reef strong enough to support/be walked on? or is it like coral and very fragile/breakable?

I am horrified to admit that while we mostly walked on the calcified portions of the reef, in our ignorance, we also ventured out onto the fragile parts of this beautiful ecosystem. I’ve since become educated on reef systems and would never make that mistake again.

What Do You Think?