Saturday 4^th July – Independence Day and an early start, full of misgivings about the supposedly treacherous journey ahead – Zippy came on the radio to say they had spent another night in Makongai but had also left early, were making good progress, and would join our little ‘flotilla’ later in the day.

 

 

 

The route we had decided on – you can see a pencil line of our route; pale blue denotes reefs and shallow water!

 

What a surprise we had in store – calm seas between the reef and mainland, a gloriously sunny day, well buoyed passages with easy waypoints to follow to avoid any danger and the most stunning scenery – alternating between what could have been Scottish locks or the lush green hills of the Lake District followed by arid  mountainous regions which wouldn’t have been out of place in Spain!

 

 

A Scottish lock……?

 

We anchored in a very safe place the first night which was just as well as a squall blew over with wind speeds of 30 knots and torrential rain; Zippy had caught us up by then and shared a delicious mahi mahi they had caught that day and we five yachts all rested easily in our bunks.  Day two was without incident – again a very pretty journey – and day three saw us checking and clearing in early at Customs Lautoka.

 

 

Industrial port area where we cleared in.

 

Malolo Lailai Island was then only a three hour hop and this is where an enterprising yachtsman named Dick Smith has built the Musket Cove Resort with a marina,  inner basin, ‘bure’ traditional style holiday accommodation built alongside waterways with swimming pools, restaurants and a nine hole golf course and spa.  The setting is beautiful and for us it was a chance to take stock before sailing back to Vuda Point for our half way lift out and antifouling.

 

 

Arriving in Musket Cove……

 

 

Attractive waterways with ‘bure’ holiday houses

 

 

A great lagoon

 

 

Loads of water sports

 

 

Bradley windsurfing

 

We have celebrated Pat’s birthday with a fantastic party organised and hosted by Jeremy (photos below) bicycled around the resort, played a round of golf and generally relaxed for a few days – and the berthing was all courtesy of the Blue Water Rally so it didn’t even hurt – especially after our financial experiences in French Polynesia!

 

 

Lee, Terry and Jennie

 

 

Shan (Stargazer), Ian (Paramour), Alan (Happy Wanderer), Pat and Jeremy (Hakuna Matata)

 

 

Elena (Hakuna Matata)

 

 

Ellie (Jenny)

 

 

Peter and Dorothy (Neva)

 

 

Fantastic leaving party with the sun setting

 

 

Peter and Liz (Moonshadow) also sadly leaving the Rally

 

 

Lorraine (Big Blue) Lena (Pelle V)

 

 

Jacob and partner (Lousill) Alan (Jenny)

 

 

Peter Seymour (Blue Water Rally) who has been supporting us brilliantly in Fiji

 

 

Wendy and Rober (Heidenskip) with the band singing a ditty to Hakuna Matata

 

 

The black and white brigade – Paul with Alan and Mary (Happy Wanderer)

 

 

 

Last night, 10^th July we said fond farewells to Hakuna Matata who leave the Rally and return to New York and Moonshadow going home to London – we prefer to think of them as ‘au revoirs’ as I know we will meet again………

 

And now we have to sail to Vuda Point Marina and work really hard to get Anahi on her toes for the next half of her journey…………