⛵️A Notorious Passage - Sailing to New Zealand 🇳🇿

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMD4DXNLRp8

On paper, sailing from Minerva Reef to New Zealand looks like a straightforward passage — but this stretch of ocean sits on the edge of the Roaring Forties, one of the most powerful weather systems on Earth.

In this episode, we leave the calm lagoon of Minerva Reef and head south into the open ocean, where warm tropical air collides with cold Southern Ocean fronts. With no land to slow the wind, waves build for thousands of miles — creating confused seas and rapidly changing conditions.

So timing is everything out here. We pick a narrow weather window, trying to stay between fast-moving fronts… but the ocean doesn’t always cooperate. This is the reality of sailing to New Zealand — raw, unpredictable, and unforgettable.

Shipwrecks & Lobster on the Remote South Minerva Reef 🦞⚓️

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmiZ3BoNqHM

Join us aboard SV Goose, our Seawind 1260 catamaran, as we explore one of the most remote and fascinating places in the South Pacific—the Minerva Reefs.

In this episode, we anchor inside North Minerva Reef and set out to uncover everything this wild, ever-changing atoll has to offer. From walking across tide-exposed coral landscapes to discovering hidden pockets of marine life, every step reveals something new.

We visit the remains of the Republic of Minerva, a failed attempt to create a man-made micronation in the middle of the ocean—now just a few scattered ruins surrounded by reef.

We also explore vibrant tide pools teeming with life—crabs, fish, coral, and more—where even the smallest changes create entirely different ecosystems.

Along the way, we dive into history at the wreck of the Commonderry, a ship with a long and dramatic past that finally met its end right here on the reef.

Then, we sail to South Minerva Reef, where more adventure awaits. We snorkel the reef, search for lobster, and come across another mysterious shipwreck hidden beneath the surface.

Minerva is raw, remote, and constantly changing with the tides—and we’re making the most of every moment we get to explore it. If you enjoy sailing, adventure, and off-the-grid exploration, make sure to subscribe and follow along for more!

We Sailed to One of the Most Remote Reefs on Earth…and Found a 1915 Shipwreck!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2u8Elz3LOIM

Sailing to one of the most remote places in the Pacific! In this episode, we sail from Tonga to the legendary North Minerva Reef, a tiny uninhabited reef in the middle of the South Pacific Ocean. With strong winds, this passage turns into a brisk sail across open water.

Once inside the reef, we drop anchor in crystal clear water and settle in to enjoy the strange contrast of having all the comforts of home while floating in one of the most remote places on Earth.

North Minerva Reef is famous among sailors; it holds incredible marine life, history, and maybe even some mysteries beneath the surface.

While exploring the reef, we make an amazing discovery — what we believe could be the wreck of the schooner Strathcona, a ship reportedly lost here in 1915. Finding the remains of a century-old shipwreck in such an isolated place is both surreal and fascinating.

Join us as we explore this wild Pacific reef and uncover a piece of maritime history far from civilization. If you love sailing adventures, remote anchorages, boat life, and exploring shipwrecks, this episode is for you.