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Monday, October 26, 2026 22°41'S 178°6'W

North Minerva Reef, 423NM 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.

From the logbook

Time Position Course Speed Log Weather Remarks
26.10. 0:45 Z 23°38'48"S 178°53'29"W 294° 0.4kt 135087.2NM wind 19.3kt 87° baro 1021 hPa Watch schedule stopped
26.10. 0:45 Z 23°38'48"S 178°53'29"W 342° 0.4kt 135087.2NM wind 19.3kt 84° baro 1021 hPa Anchored
26.10. 0:49 Z 23°38'48"S 178°53'30"W 67° 0kt 135087.2NM wind 15.4kt 85° baro 1021 hPa Stopped main engine