NORTH MINERVA REEF
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| All alone at the edge of the reef |
May 17, 2016 - North Minerva Reef - 23*39.500S - 178*54.129W
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| Grim discovery on the reef... some wreck... |
Like a giant eye staring from the ocean, its turquoise pupil dilated in spite of the glaring sun, its reef-streaked brown iris a warning to keep away, North Minerva is another mythical stop on the way to Fiji from New Zealand.
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| An eye on the sky |
There, we rendez-vou’d with the rest of the Sea Mercy Fleet, for a little fun before starting our Recovery Mission in Vanua Balavu.
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| Entering the reef |
NAVIGATION NOTE - The pass is rather straightforward, easy in fair weather, but can get some pyramidal waves if the wind kicks up and the swell outside is large - Time the entrance for slack water. There is a navigation beacon on the reef.
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| North Minerva Waypoints |
Unlike the South Minerva Reef, where access to the reef is rather difficult, one of the main attractions in North Minerva is actually to walk the reef.
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| Looking out |
And you stand there, at low tide, at the outer edge of the reef, ankle-deep in seawater, staring at the deep Pacific just a few yards away. How small are we in the face of the ocean’s immensity!
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| Spotting an octopus |
The water is not nearly as clear as in South Minerva, and the hunting is definitely not as good, but the anchorage is calmer, a perfect spot for a yacht gathering. We took advantage of it to have our 1st Sea Mercy planning party on board DOMINO… and the entire anchorage joined in, Including John Martin’s Island Cruising Association yachts… some 18 dinghies tied to DOMINO’s stern a good 50 of us on board launched the cruising season! A good start!
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| Let's get this season started! |
One awesome encounter: the motor yacht BROADSWORD, which we love, and in fact much prefer to Steve Dashew’s creations, much simpler, much cheaper… but more on this later.
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| Dominique, owner of Broadsword (left) and Dennis, the designer (right) walking the reef |
Here are a few pix for your enjoyment!
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| Always a treat |
Until next time…
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| Now, that's what I call fishing... Off Vuata Ono, Souther Lau Group |
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