Big seas enroute to New Zealand

December 11th (on our side of the dateline)
Just a quick update. we are 300 miles out from Minerva Reef with some 480 miles to go on this jump. we had 25 knot winds and 3 meter seas all night. Things have calmed a bit this morning, but it is still blowing 18 knots, with a mixed swell of 2.5 meters.
Nobody feels seasick - which is good. The folks on Fugue, a bit ahead of us, are quite seasick. There are seven boats strung out between Mineva and New Zealand. We are in the middle of the pack right now, but two boats behind us are fast "cats" so they will pass us in the next two days.
We crossed the 180th meridian yesterday - so we are now all "Golden Dragons."
Still getting some stretches of very cold water but mostly it is in the seventies.
All is well.
S 28 03.1
E 178 40.6
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24 hours out from Minerva Reef - On the way to New Zealand

Just a quick update. We've been sailing n light winds for just over 24 hours, and our wind is very variable; sometimes dropping as low as 6 knots. As a result we've come only 80 miles. 700 to go.
We don't want to arrive sooner than the 14th, as a big low pressure system will be slamming Opua that day... so maybe a day or two later. We're kid of dodging weather systems on the way south.
During our night watches last night we had water temperatures that got as low as 28 degrees F. For hours the water was 35 degrees, and we could feel the cold coming off the surface. Must be due to deep water up welling from the oceanic trenches over which we are sailing.
All are well aboard - though tired.
Owen, Carrie, Tamsyn, Griffyn
S 24 44.9
W 179 29.04
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Arrived at Minerva Reef

We arrived at North Minerva Reef yesterday safely. Our transit only took 3 days and 3 hours. we are one of seven boats now waiting here for the next good weather window to strike out for New Zealand.
Our jump from Tonga to Minerva was marked mostly by big seas and booming trade winds. Lots of water over the bow as we made 9.5 knots for some stretches - about 2 knots over our "hull speed." This afternoon we now sit in a ring of reef, with the roar of pounding surf beyond. Inside the water is relatively calm, and many shades of blue and aqua.
We have full batteries and full fuel, and full fresh water tanks - so all is good. Preliminary weather forecasts suggest that we will wait at least 3 to 4 days (maybe more) before heading out. If so, we will celebrate Tamsyn's 9th birthday at Minerva Reef. Quite a location. And in addition to S/V Fugue, there are other boats we know; Two Ticks, Northern Rose and Baroness, so we may have quite a few folks over to have cake.
When we get to New Zealand we will celebrate again, and be able to find more fun presents. More later. Time to snag some weather forecasts.
Owen
S 22 37.710
W 178 53.747
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Getting cloe to Minerva Reef

Hi all,
Just touching base. We are still plowing through 12 foot seas, and 24 knots of wind. Right now it's raining.
We are only 60 miles from Minerva - a circular reef atoll without an island. Just a reef and a lagoon. There's a narrow entrance to the lagoon on North Minerva, and we should anchor in about 30 feet of water.
Owen
22 degrees 49 minutes south
178 degrees 02 minutes west
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Leaving Tonga - On the Way to New Zealand

Hi all,
As of Thursday December lst (this side of the dateline)we have left Tonga 36 hours ago, and are now 200 miles southwest of our starting point. We are sailing fast in rough seas. we are averaging 7 knots, but have seen 9.5 knots.
The seas are mixed swells about 10 feet high, coming from two directions - making the sea much like a washing machine. we are buddy boating along with S/V Fugue. It's strange to see a sail nearby on the horizon 24 hours a day. We just have to make sure we don't crash into each other.
Kids have been a bit green around the gills - especially Tamsyn. A few drips coming in as we are taking big seas over the bow and burying the rail frequently. We hope to reach Minerva Reef in 36 hours or so. There we can rest in the lagoon, and wait for a good weather window to continue the rest of the way to New Zealand.
To Jennifer & Aaron - please make a blog comment giving your email addresses (we won't publish the comment. We can't find yours and would love to visit.
Miss you all.
Owen, Carrie, Tamsyn & Griffyn
S 20 58.502
W 176 13.1188
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Update Tonga & A Relaxing Day, Sparky & the Barleys (May 17th)

Hi,


Still in Tonga. Having a good time. Visiting many islands and people. I've been working a lot - finishing up a couple projects. 
We are getting ready for our jump to New Zealand, and so are watching for a weather window. Hope everyone has a good 
Turkey Day! We will probably watch The Wizard of Oz with the kids and have our dinner with Bob & Sue on S/V Fugue. 
Hugs to everyone.

Malo,

Owen






Carrie's post "A Relaxing Day - Sparky and the Barleys" (May 17th) was posted retroactively. Enjoy


http://svmadrona.blogspot.com/2011/05/relaxing-day-sparky-and-barleys.html

Cave diving, isolated atolls, Halloween, and unsettled weather.

Hi all.

We're doing well.  The weather has been rainy and very cloudy - making sailmail posts very difficult.  The station we have to link with is over 1500 miles away, and when the weather is overcast and full of rain, we just cannot like up to that station.

We just came back from an atoll named Avalau Island (inhabited only by goats).  It was small and exquisite.  The beach was pure white sand, the coral was abundant, and the schools of fish very colorful.


Here is a time machine picture post - going back all the away to Bora Bora.

Here's a picture of Madrona leaving Bora Bora - courtesy of Joel on Balena.  We are reefed down as we motor past the reef.  Once out in the open we put out our very large head sail.  It was blowing 20 - 25 outside.

Griffyn doing a cleaning chore - sweeping the cabin rug.

Here's Bora Bora.

An amazing peak.

The main street in Bora Bora.

A nice house front.

This church has been around a long long time.

We bought a good percentage of the food on this table before leaving.  It was the end of the day, and the women at the table loaded us up with much fruit when we left - without us paying for it, as it wouldn't keep another day.  We ate over three dozen bananas over the next few days on passage.

Here's Tamsyn's photo of the selection.  Yummy!

This is for Allison at REECAS.  Nyco's for Nico!

Wish my alley looked like this.

Tamsyn at the Post Box.  This is where we dropped your postcards.

This guy was cool.

Colorful crosses.  Churches are big here - obviously.

Cutting up Breadfruit - Uru - into slices for deep frying.  Delicious!

Griffyn's corner - some of his precious things.

Some of Tamsyn's special things including Twinkle.

Our alphabet.  Our boat is a schoolhouse.

The Galley.

Griffyn learning to read on the high seas on the way to Tonga.

Close approach Palmerston Island.  The wind was blowing from the northwest so we couldn't visit - no way to moor or anchor safely with that wind.

S/V Balena - with Joel and Christine on deck, at anchor in Tonga.

Here they are on our boat for dinner.  Good friends.

Here's our Parrot fish - they taste lemony!  Delicious.  Thanks for the fillet knives Hink & Lois!

Storms over Tonga.  Looks like a painting.

A view of Neiafu, Tonga from our anchorage.  The flag is the Tongan flag made by Carrie.

 

After the sunset - night swimming.  Mom & Dad wore less clothes.

A beautiful cave.  One of two we visited.

Here's the entrance to the above cave.

The shoreline and the water color are spectacular.

Here's our favorite cave.  We went diving here.  The roof was 100 feet over our head; the deep blue pool below was much deeper.

Schools of fish, thousands strong flowed and undulated like a single organism.  I could pick out every stone on the cave floor - over 150 feet below.

Here's Tamsyn about 12 feet down in the cave.

After days and days of rain we came into civilization for the kids Halloween party at the Aquarium cafe.

It was a lot of fun for kids and adults!

Griffyn/Spiderman doing the limbo.  Must be the special spider genes that make it possible.

Princess' can do it too.

Egg toss.  It didn't end too well for the eggs in the end.

So that's all for now.