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Opua to the kermadec Islands to minerva Reefs to Tonga / 1,260nm / 28 mar - 10 apr 2025

14 days / Cat O expedition / Event #2506 / silver fern: CREW positions available

The Category 0 ocean expedition from Opua, New Zealand to Raoul Island in the Kermadec Island Group to Minerva Reef and finally onto Tonga is a true adventurers expedition. We depart Opua in the Bay of Islands and head 540nm northeast to the Kermadec Islands. The islands are uninhabited and the northernmost outpost of New Zealand. They have been used as stopover points since as early as the 10th century.

We’ll anchor and go ashore to explore, Raoul Island* before setting off on for the next stop 330nm further north to anchor for a stopover at the stunning Minerva Reefs. These two submerged atolls have been the subject of many shipwrecks over the centuries with some still visible inside of the reefs. We’ll anchor inside the reefs and do some snorkelling before continuing on the final 280nm leg to Pangaimotu Island in Tonga.

A wreck inside the Minerva Reefs

Raoul Island at The Kermadec’s

Secure your place on the crew with a 20% deposit.

AUD$8,750

14 days

The 1,260nm route from Opua to the Kermadec Islands, Minerva Reefs and Tonga

ACTIVITIES INCLUDED

Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

HERE’S WHAT YOU WILL EXPERIENCE ONBOARD

  • Sailing: Hoisting, trimming and reefing both upwind (main, genoas, and jibs) and downwind sails (poled out headsails, spinnakers, gennakers and code 0’s (subject to weather).

  • Watch duties: Acting as watch captain (day and night), helming, navigating, checking weather and monitoring AIS and radar and for both traffic and rain squalls.

  • Weather: Downloading and analysing the latest weather forecasts and calculating best route to destination.

  • Navigation: Navigating, hazard identification, entering waypoints and calculating updated ETA’s.

  • Leadership: Watch roster planning, matching responsibility to experience, crew management and communication.

  • Safety: Familiarisation of all safety procedures, sail planning, storm preparation planning and abandon ship procedures.

  • Training: Use of PDF’s (Personal Flotation Devices), PLB’s (Personal Locator Beacons), safety tethers, dan buoy’s, storm drogue, liferaft and any other equipment required to ensure you remain safe in all conditions.

  • Personal wellbeing: Advice on how to take responsibility for managing clothing, hydration, sleep and nutrition to maintain your health and well being aboard.

  • Passage planning: Planning our arrival and route to safe harbour including timing with daylight (if required), weather factors, navigational hazards, communications / customs and sail/motor arrival plan.

Click the links above to review examples from previous sailing events across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands.

Itinery

You can travel to Opua via Whangarei or Keri Keri Airports on or before the 28th of March 2025. When you arrive we'll familiarise you with the yacht, systems and safety equipment and you will join us for a crew welcome dinner. Our crew will reassemble on the 29th of March and we will aim to depart (subject to weather) on the 30th March 2025, when we will clear Customs and then depart Opua and sail northeast towards The Kermadec’s for an overnight stop* and to go ashore. When we depart Raoul Island we’ll sail past the other islands in the group, before setting a northerly course for the Minerva Reefs. We’ll aim to visit both of the Minerva Reefs, where we’ll anchor in the lagoons, explore the reef at low tide, relax and snorkel.

The final leg is to Pangaimotu, a small island in the Tongatapu group of Tonga, lying near the capital Nukuʻalofa. It is reachable by a 10-minute boat trip from Nukuʻalofa. Aside from the beaches, a centrepiece of the island's attraction is a wreck jumping from and snorkelling around the hull of the upturned ship 50 metres off the island's main beach. The island also contains the Big Mama Yacht Club, the Pangaimotu Island Resort and a vanilla plantation. The Pangaimotu reef was declared a national marine reserve in 1989. 

You are welcome to stay onboard from the date you arrive in Opua, but if you plan to arrive prior to the 28th of March, you will need to arrange accommodation ashore. You can stay onboard when we arrive in Tonga and depart out of Fuaʻamotu International Airport, Tonga on or after 10th of April 2025. It is on the south side of the main island, Tongatapu, 20 km from the capital of Tonga, Nukuʻalofa.

Pangaimotu Island in Tonga

Pangaimotu Island in Tonga

Inclusions

Your crew package includes; all meals onboard, crew meals in Opua and in Tonga, accommodation onboard, your Ocean Sailing Expeditions crew shirt, marina fees, the use of a PFD (personal floatation device), PLB (personal locator beacon), and a safety tether. Your bedding, a pillow and towel is also included along with suncream.

*The stopover and shore visit at Raoul Island is subject to Department of Conservation approval based on the volcanic risk rating at the time. Safety is always the first priority when assessing risk to the crew and vessel. 

Exclusions

Your crew package excludes; accommodation ashore, flights and transport to and from departure and arrival ports, alcohol, toiletries, clothing and wet weather gear. You will need to complete a 2-day Sea Safety and Survival Training Course or equivalent at least 1 month prior.

Its always recommended that you book flights with date flexibility incase of unforeseen changes due to weather or schedules. Accommodation options if you want to stay ashore either side of trip:  AirBNB,  Booking.com,  Wotif &  HomeAway.

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