Moving on

Now that we've had Minerva to ourselves for nearly a week, eaten 2 fresh lobster, taken awesome shots at at day and night from the reef, have snorkeled up and down the reef many times, let Charly fly a couple of times and we're short of fresh produce and fish it is time to move one. A disturbance with quite some wind is planning to build up here within 3 days so that's another reason to head out for good.
We have very much enjoyed ourselves here even though it was quite uncomfortable for a couple of days when we had winds between 25 and 30 knots with respective waves having built up between the breaking waves and the anchorage. The reef is an average of 450m wide and we're about 350m from the reef so the wind has a fetch of about 800m to build up waves. It is still a good protection from the outside waves and boy have they smashed against the reef some times.
Marcus has done some boat jobs every day, I did some sewing, built a light-reflection-shield for Charly's controlling unit, watched some video courses of my composing program and started working on new music. We've got lots of film material for a Minerva short movie, so that's the next project in combination with the music. Ah, so much to do...
But first things first. We're leaving tomorrow morning, trying to catch some nice size tuna outside the reef and then head to Tongatapu. As the wind is more easterly we have to sail against the wind. But since it's been quiet for 2 days now the swell should be not too bad and with 10 knots if wind I don't expect big wind waves. It's only 1,5 days to sail up there, so no big deal. We're glad we left New Zealand when we did, else we would still be stuck there like all the other cruisers who stayed behind (e.g. our friends on SV Kupere). With the strong wind coming down they still can't leave NZ, so they have to wait another round, most likely another week or so..Will let you know when we arrive in Tonga.

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Minerva, Minerva

We've been here 4 days now, longer than I have ever been here before. Everyone else has left yesterday afternoon, we're enjoying the reef to ourselves. After a long series of thunderstorms passing through yesterday morning 4am to about 9am yesterday became the first calm day. What a treat it was to finally not be rocking and rolling day and night. What you have to know is that the reef, which is an average of 500m wide, submerges up to 1m under water at the high point of high tide. That means that the waves can flow over into the atoll. That added with a wind wave to the high winds we had gave quite a rolly experience even with light cross seas at anchor. But this is all still better than being out there in those conditions and we got used to it. That's why most boaties stop here on the way up to Tonga and Fiji. So yesterday it turned quiet for a couple of hours, the water in the atoll being flat calm. As soon as the rain stopped and some sun came out in front of the rain clouds Charly had to go out and explore. We got some amazing shots yesterday and also today. It wasn't as calm anymore, but more sunshine. Just amazingly beautiful.
Else we're busy with repair jobs, cleaning, baking bread and Brez'n, cooking, daily walks on the reef, snorkeling, hunting lobster at night and photography. I need to start assembling a movie and tomorrow I want to go back to making music. Last night we went out on the reef from 3.30am to 5.30am. While Marcus successfully brought back a big lobster (we just had an awesome dinner) I tried moonlight long time exposure photography and am stunned by the outcome. I got some just amazing shots. You would never guess this was taken during the night if it weren't for the stars in the blue sky. And I had a cool idea which I tried and mastered. You will see the outcome once we are in Tonga and have internet.
To my stepmom: Z, I have a super surprise for you which I created last night!
So, you see, we're busy and happy and healthy and don't mind spending another week or so here until the weather is right to leave. Until then we plan more night huntings for lobster and pictures and everything else that keeps us busy. What a luxury to not be on a schedule at the moment as long as we're checked into Tonga by May 31st when my brother arrives. FUN.

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