30^th October 2009 – Musket Cove.

 

The Island Cruising Association Rally had scheduled a departure from Musket Cove on 31^st October and had organised for customs and immigration to come out to Musket and clear them out en masse. Well at least the eight or so of them that were there which I suppose isn’t exactly “masse” but enough so that  if you cross their palm with silver Customs will come to you to clear out rather than having to go all the way in to Lautoka. There were several of us who were planning on leaving about then so we “shirt tailed” the rally, paid our $40 and cleared out with them at Musket Cove.

 

Musket Cove owner Dick Smith decided to damn the expense and put on a party. He provided the rum punch and the entertainment and out on the usual ‘Sunday Salad night’ on Friday and a good farewell night was had by all.

 

Chris opted to stay aboard suggesting he didn’t want to start the passage with a hang over. A sensible approach I thought, but as I said, half an hour outside the pass and you’ll feel like you have a hang over anyway, so you might as well actually have one!

 

Jack – Matari /Hanalei, Our host, Dick Smith, Annie – Anthem.

 

The ubiquitous Fijian entertainment group provide the atmosphere.

 

 

Kim & Bob Northern Winds, Annie & Gary Anthem, Don Jack Splash Tango.

 

Viv & Rod - Innovation,  Judy - Take a Break

 

 Yours Truly - Splash Tango, Kim & Bob Northern Winds.

 

 Ida & Ian – Ishka,  Rod & Viv – Innovation.

 

James & Lisa –Bama Breeze, & Ken (behind) Fair Isle.

 

Afore mentioned plus Robyn & Rick on right – Endangered Species.

 

 

We got a lift back to the boat at “cruisers midnight” (9pm) having already stowed the dinghy and made Splash Tango “in all respects ready for sea”.

 

At 0800hrs the next morning we slipped the mooring and headed for the pass.