23:37S 178:53W

 

As the day wore on yesterday the wind wore off.  Much to our frustration it became too light and went too far forward to continue to fly the assymetrical sail so down it came and back out with the genoa. It was so fickle at times we were forced to motorsail.

 

At 4pm, just as I was doing our afternoon radio schedule below and Alastair was showering on deck, I heard the fishing line screech.   David was snoozing but quickly raced up on deck and, ably assisted by Alastair (clad only in a towel) they landed the mahimahi...which took some effort.  Alastair quickly skinned and filleted it and we had a delicious mahimahi meal for dinner last night – sashimi to start with followed by panfried fillets.  

 

The wind returned and, as we ate dinner in the cockpit, we were once again sailing along at a good speed.  Amazingly the sea was almost flat so we could easily eat at the cockpit table – a rare occasion for us in the Pacific Ocean!  It truly was wonderful conditions – easy for eating, sleeping and showering.

 

I did the 8pm until midnight watch and the wind completely died not long after the boys went to bed.  I gave it the half hour rule but when nothing happened furled the genoa and on with the engine again.   Alastair relieved me at midnight and as I went to bed I heard him unfurling sails....within half an hour we were sailing again and sailed right through the night and morning arriving off Minerva Reef at midday.

 

The entry was relatively straightforward – although such reef entries always involve some nerves.   We’re now anchored on the south side of the lagoon – which is much larger than we imagined – and have the entire place to ourselves....apart from the ghosts of shipwrecked sailors.

 

We’re about to go for a dinghy exploration. It’s pretty amazing being anchored in the middle of nowhere.