Nov. 3rd: Minerva Sushi

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23 36.90 S
178 56.56 W

Volpaia Time 3:45pm
Wind: 9 knots
Seas: 1-2 meters
Calm, calm, calm & hot...

Crew: Brett fileting fish on back deck, Cyrus at helm, Colby & Peter assisting Brett, Mac watching a movie, Brooke writing


Comments: After our wind tippy toed away from us, we have motored the last day. We plan on stopping now at Minerva Reef for 48 hours or so, while the wind fills in. There is a high pressure system developing over NZ, which would give us zero wind then a couple of days of bad head winds in our face (which is not nice), so we plan on stopping and sailing with those winds West, and then hooking into the middle or back end of that high pressure system into NZ the last couple of days.

We are approaching the reef now. We can see 6 boats anchored within. How strange to see the white water of a reef surrounding a deep lagoon out in the middle of all this Blue. A ring of reef rises up from the depths, she provides a bit of shelter from swell and a perfect parking spot during settled weather like we have. 20 minutes ago, as we were making our turn for the pass, the fishing reel screamed and so did Brett as he fought a 30 lb yellowfin tuna to the surface. Cyrus gaffed it and we all thanked this gorgeous creature for it's life.. for the steaks and sashimi and sushi that we will enjoy. We were about to proceed, when we saw the large shark following us. So we decided we might just make everyone swimming in the lagoon happy by cleaning and gutting the fish outside the reef pass. A 8-10 foot shark is having the time of it's life right now.. staying about 15 feet behind us and grabbing the scraps Brett tosses overboard. What an incredible sight! I couldn't tell the species of shark.. large and grey. I am told there are a lot of lemonsharks here as I have mentioned before, but I cannot tell if this is one or not. Something tells me it is not. I am so curious, I am going back on deck to see if it happens to give us a better glimpse.

We will be eating well! Tonight, anchored here at this coral oasis...


Brooke

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