2 nights down

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First night, I thought we were clear. So much for thinking. Shortly after 3am the chaos monkey showed up. Why at 3am? It’s when the chaos thrives. Luckily it wasn’t the whole “simian army” just one lone operative. We switched from big pulleys (blocks) on the reefing lines of the main and replaced the with friction rings that are lighter and would cause less damage if they hit you in the head or fell on a solar panel. Friction rings are not friction-less, but super smooth. Knowing they would wear our reefing lines I had installed a chafe guard protection where the rings are. Unfortunately was about 6 inches off when the sail was reefed and in a matter of hours the reefing line parted ways. Doh! Yes at 3am. Luckily we have other lines and just further reefed the sail and amazingly the line didn’t disappear in the boom. I was able to grab it and re-tie it. We left the second reef in till day light, then decided to run new line in its place, and voila back in business

With the mornings job complete was just a bouncy day of trying to get into a rhythm. Completely overcast day, big seas, definitely not a pleasure cruise.

Christine’s favorite pulled pork sandwiches for dinner as the seas were coming down a bit but the rain showers, squalls were appearing to again back down to second reef for the evening. Boat got rained on a couple of times during the night but all good out here.

Sunrise day three on the way to Minerva reef

Till the butter melts

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On the move. Heading north till the butter melts. We have been cold long enough, so in search of warmer tropical coladas.

First 100 miles toward the destination of Minerva reef done and dusted. Started off slowly with scraps of the new sails providing enough power to shake out the 8 months of cobwebs with regard to sailing. After a couple of gusty conditions some more canvas came out and just like that we are making good time north.

We check lots of things related to weather before heading off. Wind, wind direction, waves and their direction, rain, cape (energy that creates havoc), and even phases of the moon. Full moon passages are sweet cause it helps spot the dark clouds even at night. What sealed the “time to go” on this voyages was the thermometer would be rising, the forecast showed a nice steady increase day after day. So we set off to watch the New Zealand butter melt.

Marsden cove clearing out of New Zealand

Sugar Shack is on the Move! A New Passage

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We have left New Zealand after spending just over 8 months in Whangarei, Town Basin Marina! Technically, we took a 2-week trip to Great Barrier Island so Sugar Shack didn’t spend “all of that time” in the marina!  After many, many projects we are finally ready for the next passage! This trip will begin on Tuesday, 4 July 2023 where we will depart Marsden Cove Marina and head toward Minerva Reef.  This passage should take us between 6-8 days. We hope to spend between 4-6 days at Minerva Reef which are two submerged atolls in the middle of the Pacific Ocean!  During high tide, the reef disappears and we will be anchored in the middle of nowhere.  More on this to come in a future blog.
Minerva in the middle of the Pacific

Minerva in the middle of the Pacific

The next passage will take us from Minerva Reef to Nuku’alofa, Tonga. This should take us betwen 2-3 days at sea. During this passage time we will do “live blogs.”  So, I have suspended all previously scheduled blogs.