Saturday, November 7, 2026 35°18'S 174°7'E

Opua, 835NM SW of Minerva Reef

After dinner we watched the darkening skies with wary eyes. Two occluded fronts were due to pass us, bringing buckets of rain and thunder.

Somehow the first one missed us, and there’d be a few hours before the second one, maybe enough to reach harbour? Once we got to the lee of New Zealand, we dropped sail and started the engine.

Navigating into an unknown port in the dark is always interesting. The channel to Opua is well lit with lateral marks and sector lights, but it was still useful to have two pairs of eyes on deck interpreting it all. We managed to reach the quarantine dock before the second row of thunderstorms. New Zealand, we made it!

• Distance today: 34NM
• Engine hours: 2.3

Friday, November 6, 2026 34°49'S 174°19'E

Pacific Ocean, 801NM SW of Minerva reef

In the night we made it to double digits. We kept changing between broad reach and wing-on-wing depending on where the wind was coming. Morning brought no difference to the sail setup. Nature on the other hand was giving it all. Henri saw a fin of a orca and an albatross!

Later in the afternoon, Suski heard thunder rolling in the distance. It was time to put modern technology to good use as we once more are in the reach of a weather radar. So internet got turned on, location of the thunder identified and sails reduced to second reef and stay sail. This would have been the action taken anyway, but more datapoints is better!

While waiting for the thunder and rain to approach, Suski saw a pod of dolphins and an albatross. They truly are magnificient and big birds!

• Distance today: 103NM
• Lunch: tomato pasta
• Engine hours: 0

Thursday, November 5, 2026 33°15'S 174°58'E

Pacific Ocean, 698NM SW of Minerva Reef

The night was dark and foggy, with visibility only a few meters outside the boat. But winds were light and going quite comfortable.

Easy conditions have continued throughout the day. Wind shifted more to the west, allowing us to unfurl the full genoa on a beam reach. Going is slow but pleasant. Just before noon even the sun came out, allowing batteries to be replenished and some wet gear dried out.

Since tomorrow we’ll likely sight New Zealand, we enjoyed a proper freshwater shower.

• Distance today: 101NM
• Lunch: lentil soup
• Engine hours: 0

Wednesday, November 4, 2026 31°52'S 175°55'E

Pacific Ocean, 597NM SW of Minerva reef

The night gave us yet another challenge: two hours of sustained 40kn winds. We took the main down and kept the staysail. In the pitch black darkness we surfed down the waves with wind howling in our ears. Wearing full set of foulies was not an exaggerated approach to the situation. After that, the winds subseded and we were left with mere 30 knots, what at that point felt calm and easy.

As the morning rose, we pulled up the main in second reef and opted for good sleep for the off watch instead of speed. The day became a slog forward with deep snoring heard from the sea bunk.

The air temperature is only 18 degrees, and we are yet again in latitudes where wearing long pants and shirt for the day is not only an option, but a necessity!

• Distance today: 117NM
• Lunch: navy bean soup
• Engine hours: 0

Tuesday, November 3, 2026 30°1'S 176°24'E

Pacific Ocean, 480NM SW of Minerva Reef

The morning dawned grey and wet. However, also with a significant decrease in sea state. With the wind backing, we were able to pole out the headsail and continue wing on wing.

Despite the murky weather, there was enough sun peeking from behind the clouds that we’re finishing the day with full batteries. And we still haven’t used the hydrogenerator on this trip. Benefits of a route where the sun is constantly behind us.

The waves are now 1m smaller than yesterday. We’re still sailing deeply reefed, as the warm front to the west of us might bring squalls.

• Distance today: 150NM
• Lunch: spaghetti aglio e olio
• Engine hours: 0

Monday, November 2, 2026 27°39'S 177°27'E

Pacific Ocean, 330NM SW of Minerva Reef

In the night, the winds kept stable and wind wane kept us on course without interventions. As the sun came out, the wind kicked up a notch and kept changing between 20 and 35kn. We needed to keep adjusting the wind vane to match the wind. Around noon we had the biggest gust of 39kn and the waves were steep as we found ourselves in the middle of a counter current. Here the currents are more or less random, so picking a favourable stream is not an option.

With the steep waves we adjusted the course to be a bit more westerly to maximise comfort. As of writing, the waves have started easing along with the wind.

• Distance today: 152NM
• Lunch: coconut lentil soup
• Engine hours: 0

Sunday, November 1, 2026 25°45'S 178°50'E

Pacific Ocean, 178NM SW of Minerva Reef

The night watches and morning hours went easily with the boat sailing itself. The only thing the on-watch had to do was an occasional look around.

Just before noon I tried taking a sun sight, and got the celestial running fix to just 7NM from the boat position. In general, our dead reckoning system has performed really well on this passage, despite the paddle wheel having been stuck the first day (polars were used instead).

In the afternoon we entered the forecasted windier stretch of the trip, with gusts up to 32kn. We took a little bit lower course to keep the boat comfortable. Now we wait for the waves to build up over tomorrow. We have opened the last box of licorice allsorts.

• Distance today: 127NM
• Lunch: chanterelle risotto
• Engine hours: 0

Saturday, October 31, 2026 24°3'S 179°39'W

Pacific Ocean, 51NM SW of Minerva reef

In the morning we woke up to a gloomy grey day. The front had passed us and the wind had turned to be favorable, so we hoisted anchor and left. Inside the atoll we packed the anchor away and set up main in first reef and prepared the staysail on deck. Then it was time to head out of the pass and leave North Minerva Reef behind.

Our time in Minerva was magical. With full moon and practically no wind for few days we could enjoy exploring the reef at low tide and participate to the various social gatherings that were organized. On our last evening the kids were zooming around on dinghies trick and treating. The boats who wanted to participate hoisted the Q-flag to signal that some sweets were available on board.

As we sailed SW the sky cleared and we embraced the warmth of the sun and calm seas. Over the day as the wind and seas picked up, we put in the second reef and are now comfortable snacking our way towards New Zealand.

• Distance today: 51NM
• Lunch: chili sin carne
• Engine hours: 0.7

Monday, October 26, 2026 23°38'S 178°53'W

North Minerva Reef, 424NM SW of Neiafu

The going got progressively easier the further south we got. In the early hours we had some rain showers that turned the wind, and so in the morning we set up the poled out genoa and shook to first reef. Soon after we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn. Lille Ø is out of the tropics for the first time since leaving Canaries.

Around noon we saw a forest of masts rising up from the horizon. Minerva Reef is a convenient stop along the way to New Zealand, a lot of this weather window’s departure cohort has chosen to stop here.

This place is quite amazing, a barren reef atoll in the middle of the ocean. You can see some coral above the surface, but there are no islands like in Tuamotus. We dropped the hook in 10m and are anchored in crystal clear water.

• Distance today: 122NM
• Lunch: spaghetti bolognese
• Engine hours: 1

Sunday, October 25, 2026 22°13'S 177°44'W

Pacific Ocean, 302NM SW of Neiafu

The night was uneventful. Lille Ø kept sailing on its course with little to no intervention from the crew, who were slowly getting fitter from the various levels of sea sickness. The morning grew gray as scattered rainclouds kept swiching the wind between 7 and 27kn. Afternoon brought the sun out and steady winds around 20kn. In the horizon we see the also heavily reefed Mathilda flying past us at around 10kn of speed.

Fiji Met Office bulletin promised rough seas north of 22°S, and indeed after that line things got more comfortable

• Distance today: 132NM
• Lunch: gazpacho
• Engine hours: 0