Minerva! Minerva!
Today on Silver Fern has been particularly exciting. It all started just after midnight…
We crossed the international date line when our longitude changed from 179.59.999’E to 180.00.000 to 179.59.999W over the space of about one second. It was a bit nerdy staying up late to watch the numbers change, but this was a first in my life for me! The stars were incredible and the phosphorescence in the bow waves were entrancing. Everyone else was holding out for latitude 23N where Minerva Reef is. It’s all we could talk about all day!
Gennaker grins!
A beautiful 12 knots filled in and we were able to set our gennaker again. No poles were harmed in the setting of this sail and we sped along at 7-8 kts boat speed - same as what we had been motoring at all night! With the generator on, we turned on the water maker in anticipation of swimming and rinsing off at the reef. Lunchtime was followed up by a very special treat of chocolate brownie made by Anne earlier this morning. Resourcefully, she added the dregs of the scroggin container so it was full of wee treats of nuts, seeds and cranberries.
An update on our murder mystery game: there’s been another four deaths leaving only three people alive still. Tim got done in the forwards heads with a skillet, and I got sprung in the lazarette with a winch handle. Anne got killed with a spanner on the dinghy and Kylie died from a fender at the mast. Only Steely Dan, Handy Andy and Reliable Russell are left in the game. It’s been a fun addition to the last couple of days and has certainly provided entertainment and suspicion throughout the crew.
Steely Dan doing a log entry
Caught in the laz with a winch handle
We struck the gennaker just before Minerva Reef entrance as we though David wouldn’t appreciate us sending it through the gap under sail (and also the wind angle was completely wrong). Once inside we pulled down the remaining main sail (up with two reefs in) and wow what a view! It was wonderful to mooch around inside the calm water and appreciate the space we’d entered. We were fascinated reading up about how atolls are created. The book said they all used to be volcanoes, and as the volcano eroded, coral grows on the outside and eventually the volcano is completely gone which leaves just the ring of coral. Neat huh!
Does this photo really need a description?
John and his crayfish
Once anchored we had a celebratory moment with nibbles and drinks and reminisced about the last 6 days. Excitement boiled over and the togs came out and we all jumped off the boat! The water temperature is up to 25°C and boy it’s lovely. Dinner tried to be cooked on the BBQ but tāwhirimātea (God of the wind in Māori mythology) kept blowing the flames out. Pork chops and steaks sided with fresh salad and fried potatoes was such a treat. We finished the day with an epic night time mission to the reef. Winds of 20 knots created a short chop which drenched us as the “Night Duckie” plowed through. Onwards, onwards, we reached the edge of the reef where there were torrents of water pouring inwards. A brief stop and then back to the boat, pushing through schools of blue fish and piper fish. A quick swap over and a second dinghy run went to the reef. Waiting for their return we heard over the VHF: “We are returning with a crayfish, over”. Dan, Anne and John have hit a jackpot!! Sure enough, they turned up with a crayfish. After a photoshoot the cray was returned to the water. All very exciting.
Who’s that nice looking boat?
That’s enough for now, we don’t want our readers knowing everything. Check in for tomorrow’s adventures, there’s talk of pancakes and snorkeling, and we’re expecting Te Kaihōpara to arrive. I wonder if the dinghy will be dubbed “Night Duckie” in the daylight…
Hannah - Chief Mate - Silver Fern
