We arrived at North Minerva Reef, 29.39S x 178.53W, around 0830 today. The only land is a reef which at low tide is out of the water by maybe a foot and about 1/2 mile long, all the rest of the time there is just a 6 mile circular surf in the middle of the ocean. There is a 600 foot wide passage for an entrance. After 2 days and nights in rough seas and winds 20-30 knots, it is so nice to be in flat water. Minerva is a circular lagoon which is well protected by the surrounding reef from ocean waves. There are no sandy beaches, trees, or plants, just the rocky reef and water of various shades of blue, surrounded by surf crashing against the ocean side of the reef. It a very amazing place to see, and more amazing is that this place with flat waters is seemingly located "out in the middle of the deep blue sea". I'm sure the ancient mariners before the days of charts and electronic chart technology, were very surprised to discover it. We may stay 1 or 2 days here before continuing the remaining 800 miles of the passage. Corvidae, as usual, has been handling the seas and winds very well. The weather for the rest of the trip is forecasted to be somewhat mellower. It has been is a rocky ride, but all is well on board. Grateful to be getting closer to home. Hope to be in NZ about the 10/29/13.
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Saturday, October 19, 2013
on the way to NZ
We arrived at North Minerva Reef, 29.39S x 178.53W, around 0830 today. The only land is a reef which at low tide is out of the water by maybe a foot and about 1/2 mile long, all the rest of the time there is just a 6 mile circular surf in the middle of the ocean. There is a 600 foot wide passage for an entrance. After 2 days and nights in rough seas and winds 20-30 knots, it is so nice to be in flat water. Minerva is a circular lagoon which is well protected by the surrounding reef from ocean waves. There are no sandy beaches, trees, or plants, just the rocky reef and water of various shades of blue, surrounded by surf crashing against the ocean side of the reef. It a very amazing place to see, and more amazing is that this place with flat waters is seemingly located "out in the middle of the deep blue sea". I'm sure the ancient mariners before the days of charts and electronic chart technology, were very surprised to discover it. We may stay 1 or 2 days here before continuing the remaining 800 miles of the passage. Corvidae, as usual, has been handling the seas and winds very well. The weather for the rest of the trip is forecasted to be somewhat mellower. It has been is a rocky ride, but all is well on board. Grateful to be getting closer to home. Hope to be in NZ about the 10/29/13.
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Friday, October 11, 2013
tough anchorage
Hello all,
Thanks for your prayers to those who Nona called last night about 2 AM our time. My superior(?) sailing skills and your thoughts got us out of a pretty scary predicament. The day started with sun and a really good snorkel around the adjacent reefs. For dinner I barbecued chicken and Nona prepared the corn on the cob and sweet potatoes that a Tongan mother gave us while we were on a walk around the island. As we were walking down the dirt road surrounded by eucalyptus, mango, taro and many other tropical trees a little girl ran out to us holding a plastic sack full bananas. She had a wonderful smile and her mom by the house waived. I gave the little girl a lolly pop. It was a bit windy around 1700 so we bunked down in the main solon where the rocking and rolling is not so noticeable. At 2100 hours the wind picked up to 20 - 30 knots and the boat swung 180 degrees and faced the open seas. We started rocking some and faced south west and that put a reef about 50' behind Corvidae. Earlier in the day when we set the anchor I backed down on it and it bit into something solid. I dove on it and it was snagged on a "bommie", a coral mound, and the chain was snaked over the coral. Not good for the coral but a solid set for the anchor. About 2130 hours a 40 knot blast of wind hit the boat and everything was jumping and making noise. The caternary in the chain straightened out and the chain rubbed on the coral each time we bobbed up with the ocean waves. We were both up in the cockpit watching, wondering and running different scenarios over in our head about what our risks were. Before too long the waves built up pretty good and we were really rocking. The wind would push the bow over and we would be abeam to the seas and we would roll 30 degrees. Nona put a ditch bag together with our personal documents, money, wallets, etc. It was completely dark, no moon, no stars. This goes on until about 0200 hours in the morning when suddenly 40 knots of wind buffets the boat. The rigging was howling and Corvidae was jumping all around the anchor chain was grinding on the coral, we were being thrown all around. The entire pacific ocean was off our bow and the islands reefs were just off our stern. We were pretty tense but rational. All the while the surf was breaking on both side of our boat and occasionally started under our boat. We were in the surf zone and it was noisy. Then I recognized that the reef was about 15' directly behind our boat. That was a shocker. It's edge went 25' straight to the bottom so we had clearance right up to the edge but certainly no further. All this while we had the engine forward idle to ease the anchor chain but then we boosted the RPM to go forward and away from the reef. I went forward with life vest and tether to windlass in some chain to get us further off the reef. This worked but we still swung from side to side and frequently motored away from the reef. Neither of us had any rest all night and we so looked forward to daylight so we could SEE our predicament more clearly. All night our dingy was trying to take wing when the wind blew it's bow vertical. I had two lines on it so it wouldn't pirouette. The motor was tied on. I failed to remove the paddles and lost one. It finally became light enough to see about 0600. About 0800 we decided to try to raise the anchor. We drove side to side front to back and around to try and unwrap the chain and to my amazement we did it. The anchor roller for the anchor was severely bent but still held the anchor. We blasted outta there about 0830 and never looked back. What a night to remember. We were so lucky and grateful to not loose our boat on the reef not to mention what we would have done to make it to the island. We motored 6 hours to another anchorage and some deserved rest. Nona made corned beef and cabbage and biscuits for dinner!! WOW. Our anchor is well set with 5/1 scope and a snubber line to ease the shock load on the windlass and cleats. The wind is 10 knots. Nona was stellar in keeping calm and coming up with good ideas. I did a pretty good job keeping us off the reef and safe.
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Thanks for your prayers to those who Nona called last night about 2 AM our time. My superior(?) sailing skills and your thoughts got us out of a pretty scary predicament. The day started with sun and a really good snorkel around the adjacent reefs. For dinner I barbecued chicken and Nona prepared the corn on the cob and sweet potatoes that a Tongan mother gave us while we were on a walk around the island. As we were walking down the dirt road surrounded by eucalyptus, mango, taro and many other tropical trees a little girl ran out to us holding a plastic sack full bananas. She had a wonderful smile and her mom by the house waived. I gave the little girl a lolly pop. It was a bit windy around 1700 so we bunked down in the main solon where the rocking and rolling is not so noticeable. At 2100 hours the wind picked up to 20 - 30 knots and the boat swung 180 degrees and faced the open seas. We started rocking some and faced south west and that put a reef about 50' behind Corvidae. Earlier in the day when we set the anchor I backed down on it and it bit into something solid. I dove on it and it was snagged on a "bommie", a coral mound, and the chain was snaked over the coral. Not good for the coral but a solid set for the anchor. About 2130 hours a 40 knot blast of wind hit the boat and everything was jumping and making noise. The caternary in the chain straightened out and the chain rubbed on the coral each time we bobbed up with the ocean waves. We were both up in the cockpit watching, wondering and running different scenarios over in our head about what our risks were. Before too long the waves built up pretty good and we were really rocking. The wind would push the bow over and we would be abeam to the seas and we would roll 30 degrees. Nona put a ditch bag together with our personal documents, money, wallets, etc. It was completely dark, no moon, no stars. This goes on until about 0200 hours in the morning when suddenly 40 knots of wind buffets the boat. The rigging was howling and Corvidae was jumping all around the anchor chain was grinding on the coral, we were being thrown all around. The entire pacific ocean was off our bow and the islands reefs were just off our stern. We were pretty tense but rational. All the while the surf was breaking on both side of our boat and occasionally started under our boat. We were in the surf zone and it was noisy. Then I recognized that the reef was about 15' directly behind our boat. That was a shocker. It's edge went 25' straight to the bottom so we had clearance right up to the edge but certainly no further. All this while we had the engine forward idle to ease the anchor chain but then we boosted the RPM to go forward and away from the reef. I went forward with life vest and tether to windlass in some chain to get us further off the reef. This worked but we still swung from side to side and frequently motored away from the reef. Neither of us had any rest all night and we so looked forward to daylight so we could SEE our predicament more clearly. All night our dingy was trying to take wing when the wind blew it's bow vertical. I had two lines on it so it wouldn't pirouette. The motor was tied on. I failed to remove the paddles and lost one. It finally became light enough to see about 0600. About 0800 we decided to try to raise the anchor. We drove side to side front to back and around to try and unwrap the chain and to my amazement we did it. The anchor roller for the anchor was severely bent but still held the anchor. We blasted outta there about 0830 and never looked back. What a night to remember. We were so lucky and grateful to not loose our boat on the reef not to mention what we would have done to make it to the island. We motored 6 hours to another anchorage and some deserved rest. Nona made corned beef and cabbage and biscuits for dinner!! WOW. Our anchor is well set with 5/1 scope and a snubber line to ease the shock load on the windlass and cleats. The wind is 10 knots. Nona was stellar in keeping calm and coming up with good ideas. I did a pretty good job keeping us off the reef and safe.
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Tuesday, September 24, 2013
vava'u
Today was a good day. We were anchored in Neiafu this morning and went to town for emailing at a hot spot restaurant which also sent off our advanced arrival notice to New Zealand. About 1100 hours we released the line attached to the mooring ball and drifted astern. Out went the genoa and off we were. We sailed for 90 minutes to the anchorage, no motor, dropped the hook, snagged a coral head which abruptly jerked us 90 degrees and set us firmly in place. We decided there was too much fetch and wind so we tried to haul in the anchor and head for a more northerly anchorage with less fetch. Well the anchor wasn't going anywhere!!. We pulled to port then starboard then ahead with force and nothing happened. I dove on the anchor but it was too deep and the water was murky. We decided to use the hookah to dive on it. A hookah is an onboard compressor providing fresh air through a 50' hose to a mouth piece. Nona drove the boat forward to locate it above the anchor. It was only 28' down and lodged under a coral head. I was able to shake the chain back and forth to back it out from under the coral head. Nona pushed the up button on the windlass and we were clear. That was the highlight of my day, but dinner was a close second. We motored to another anchorage in the lee of land which was more protected from wind and waves. Nona prepared chicken and dumplings in a pressure cooker for dinner with fresh beans from the market and dressing. It was a great meal. She is a great cook!. I was going to dive for lobster tonight but I am too full from dinner. Tomorrow we snorkel.
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Wednesday, September 18, 2013
tonga
Our next port of call in the kingdom of Tonga:We arrived in Neiafu,Vava'u, with Oda,the name of our Norwegian friends boat,
on 9/9/13 and of the same day were invited to a shady character's feast at his house along with 10 other sailors. Most of them were off a square rigger which sailed around the world. The 1st mate was a german fellow who sat next to me. His name is Ioafa and every morning he would row his small wooden boat through the anchorage selling bread and lobster. He was a good sized Tonga, being fit from rowing and riding his bicycle. He was about 70 years old and weathered. We followed him through town and into the residential area passing pigs, dogs, smiling and waving children and adults to his house made of plywood and corrugated metal roofing. We all took off our shoes and sat around a woven mat on the floor covered with various plates of Tongan food: More lobster than we could eat, breadfruit, chicken, pork, fish, taro,cocoanut juice and koolaid. Then Ioafa would break out in song! He sang several songs in the Tongan language. Then he served his home made beer which was horrible. He tried to sell the yeast packages to us but no takers. As Tongan feasts go it was OK but we went to another later on Lape island which was outstanding. It included a roasted weiner pig.
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on 9/9/13 and of the same day were invited to a shady character's feast at his house along with 10 other sailors. Most of them were off a square rigger which sailed around the world. The 1st mate was a german fellow who sat next to me. His name is Ioafa and every morning he would row his small wooden boat through the anchorage selling bread and lobster. He was a good sized Tonga, being fit from rowing and riding his bicycle. He was about 70 years old and weathered. We followed him through town and into the residential area passing pigs, dogs, smiling and waving children and adults to his house made of plywood and corrugated metal roofing. We all took off our shoes and sat around a woven mat on the floor covered with various plates of Tongan food: More lobster than we could eat, breadfruit, chicken, pork, fish, taro,cocoanut juice and koolaid. Then Ioafa would break out in song! He sang several songs in the Tongan language. Then he served his home made beer which was horrible. He tried to sell the yeast packages to us but no takers. As Tongan feasts go it was OK but we went to another later on Lape island which was outstanding. It included a roasted weiner pig.
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Wednesday, August 28, 2013
Robert lewis stevenson
Steve and Nona
Monday, August 26, 2013
somoa
We arrived in Somoa 8/20/13 and have been in Apia Marina since then. The first time we have been tied to a dock since Mazatlan and it is a nice rest from rocking and rolling. The marina reminds us a bit of Mexico cause on the weekends the music in the marina is loud and plays to midnight. The internet costs $5.00 dollars and hour. That is $10 WST, western somoa talo. We hiked up to Robert Louis Stevensons grave site today and toured his house. We are not used to much exercise so we sweat profusely in the 90 degree uphill rainforest climb. We have rented a car for three days and Steve is driving with the steering on the right side of the car and driving on the left side of the road. so far so good. 
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Sunday, August 18, 2013
blog update.
We have been anchored in pago pago, American somoa for a week. It has been raining like the monsoons for the last 3 days. Takes 15 minutes to bale out the dingy. Our wet clothes are hanging all over inside the boat but with 98% humidity they don't dry out. This morning the winds picked up to 15 knots so we opened the hatches for a draft to dry out the clothes. I replaced the bilge float switch today. I noticed there was about 6" of water above the float switch in the bilge and with some troubleshooting concluded the float switch was defective. From there I replaced the internal line in the whisker pole add a foreguy, afterguy and topping lift to it. It will be a lot safer to deploy now.
Tomorrow afternoon we depart for Somoa with our friends Per and Elizabeth on the sailboat ODA. They are Norwegians and are sailing around the world. We have been sailing together from Tahuata, Rangiroa, Suwarrow to Pago Pago. Nice people. They speak very good English and have a good sense of humor. There is a full moon so the night sail/motor will be beautiful. Should arrive in about 16 hours.
Steve
Saturday, August 17, 2013
We are so proud!
We have been IT-dudes in a minute, and have managed change our blog so you want to come back again!! We are so proud!!!
Thursday, August 15, 2013
pago pago - pronounced pango pango. American Somoa
arrived pago pago 8/11/13. Anchorage is in a bay downwind from the starkest tuna processing plant. The aroma is striking when they are cooking tuna. Thousands of frozen tuna are brought in by large fishing boats from China and Somoa. The fish are thawed out by flowing hot water over them in large tanks. I asked for a tour of the plant but it just so happened the board of directors from Japan were visiting so we didn't visit Charlie Tuna's plant. Nona and I took a small bus to Aua for a walk and to see the Fruit bats. A few were flying during the day and looked quite prehoristic. They hang from the trees by day and eat fruit at dusk.
Thursday, July 25, 2013
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