Musket Cove and Beyond

The first few days being back in Musket was amazing. We had fun times catching up with friends and enjoyed just being back in a safe anchorage close to walks and a resort pool.

Then the weather changed and we had a week of high winds and rain as two cyclones Judy and Kevin passed south of Fiji wrecking havoc over Vanuatu. The majority of boats in Musket were sitting on mooring balls and if the winds get too high then they would have to leave them as the moorings are not rated for high winds meaning it wouldn’t be safe to stay on as they could break. Different scenarios and options were freely discussed between boaties as they were all deciding on the best course of action (for themselves). We obviously had very limited options since we had no engine so Craig did what he could to ensure we wouldn’t move. As well as 55metres of chain we also have 60metres of really strong rope attached to the end of the chain. All anchorages we have done so far we have only used the chain however we do have the option of going onto the rope as well so Craig rigged up a secondary strong rope to the end of our anchor chain meaning we could drop all the chain giving us that extra weight in the water with the security of two strong ropes attached. As well as that Craig rigged up and dropped out our second anchor.

Lesson: We are currently sitting in 15metres and we have 55metres of anchor chain. This means we have 15metres to 13metres of chain (depending on low and high tide) of chain in the water and 40metres of chain laying on the bottom and then our anchor, (when we first dropped anchor on our return from Cuvu we had a friend pull REAO backwards with their boat to ensure that the anchor was dug in). In order for REAO to drag the winds would need to be that strong that they lift the 40metres of chain up of the seafloor and then that would allow the anchor to drag.

Cyclones Judy and Kevin (for us) turned into a non event as they both passed by way further south than we were, Reao was safely still in the same spot the weather turned again and we were back to the fantastically beautiful blue sky days.

Our handy heroes (see previous blog) decided to head out for a few days to explore and enjoy the blue skies weather and as we were unable to go anywhere with REAO they invited us along, well who were we to say no.

What followed was a week of some beautiful anchorages within the mamanucas (a group of 20 islands south of the yasawas), some restaurant quality food, a lot of alcohol, quizzes, games, fun company and just a rip roaring good time. We got to experience boatie life on a power catamaran and Craig was given some good tips on how to catch fish.

Way to soon it was time for us to return to Musket, to get REAO ready to be towed to Vuda Marina and get hauled out for the very first time, a different kind of adventure for us to experience.