Minerva Reef Directions | Island Cruising Association

Minerva sailing directions South Pacific voyagers, particularly those bound from Tonga or Fiji for largely cyclone-free New Zealand, should keep North and South Minerva Reef in mind for a possible storm refuge, rest stop, adventure destination, or at the very least as a potential hazard to navigation. These two atolls also represent an opportunity to see tropical Indo-Pacific sea life in a nearly undisturbed condition. Weather windows The best times to visit the Minervas are either northbound during the late Southern Hemisphere fall near the end of May/ early June or southbound during the late spring in October. Arriving too early (northbound) or too late (southbound) invites exposure to severe weather conditions. Depart New Zealand for the voyage north right behind an outgoing low, not in the middle of a high, and embark from the Minervas southward just as the leading edge of a preferably mild high reaches the area.

Information sources British Admiralty Chart 985, Mi nerva Reefs.: accurately depicts both atolls and includes a close-up of the pass into South Minerva useful for orientation. Approximate CPSentrance coordinates, for use in good light in conjunction with the chart and a lookout only, are 230 37.36 S, 178056.11 W (North Minerva) and 23 56.55 S, 179007.60 W (South Minerva). Sailing Directions Planning Guide for the South Pacific Ocean (Publication 122) also contains useful data for a visit to the Minervas. General layout North Minerva Reef is nearly circular, with an approximate diameter of 3.5 nm. Using a proper lookout, one can move around inside the atoll in order to anchor in the greatest protection for the prevailing wind. South Minerva Reef consists of two roughly circular rings of reef joined in the middle, like a number 8 tilted slightly in a northeast-southwest orientation. Only the two-milediameter eastern lagoon is accessible to larger vessels, and anchoring in Herald Bight, outside the pass, is tenable for wind directions lacking a northerly component. Like North Minerva, movement throughout this eastern lagoon for optimal anchoring is possible with a vigilant lookout. We noted a narrow pass on the northern rim of the western lagoon not shown on the chart, potentially navigable for centerboarders and dinghies. Good holding ground is prevalent inside both Minervas, and both feature slightly

bumpy conditions at higher tides in normal weather conditions. Gear A fully stocked medical kit, manuals, and training; good longdistance communication capability, such as single-sideband or ham radio or an Inmarsat transceiver; and survival fishing and watermaking equipment are all critical for a trip to the Minervas. Fishing and diving gear will greatly enhance your pleasure and dinner menu. Specifically, bring medium to heavy trolling gear for offshore fishing, 10- and 20-poundclass spinning rods for lagoon fishing, wetsuits for diving and snorkeling in the cool water, thick dive boots or other protective footwear for reef walking, and a Hawaiian sling and lobster snare. Jurisdiction The Minerva Reefs were ceded to Tonga in 1972 and ratified by the South Pacific Forum the same year. In 2010 Fiji disputed the Tongan ownership and placed gunboats at North Minerva to try and force their claim. The claim is currently under dispute.

Obviously,you will have either cleared customs out of Tonga or not yet checked in when you visit. The Minervas, however, have been long considered a stopover between countries, certainly in severe weather or for vessel repairs. Nevertheless, go easy on the seafood harvest, never taking more than you can consume in a short time, and do not disturb giant clams, sea turtles, or other threatened creatures. A visit from a Tongan patrol boat should not, under these conditions, be cause for concern.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 25th, 2011 at 2:19 pm and is filed under Cruising Guide, Resources. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.

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Minerva Reef Directions | Island Cruising Association