Our first week with the Halldos has been reported on where we explored remote anchorages and ended with our scary reef adventure. This second week has been at Musket Cove where the famous regatta takes place with about 80 sailboats participating. The week is like summer camp for adults and has been jam packed with lots of activity and way too much debauchery and fun!!!
Don and Martha guiding us out the reef at Mano Island enroute to Musket Cove
Don gets ready to grab the mooring ball
After we got settled in we joined in the opening night at the Island Bar. Di and Martha ready to party.
The Canadian contingent singing O’Canada at the opening ceremonies
Diana was able to talk Martha in to taking scuba lessons (with very little persuasion needed). Here in Fiji you can become completely certified in only 2 ½ days at about half the cost of doing it in Canada – plus it is one on one instruction.
Martha doing her bookwork in the classroom
Martha’s first pool lesson
The guys cheering on Martha in the pool
Diana joined Martha on all of her five dives. This is Martha’s virgin scuba dive
Getting back in to the boat with a huge smile.
Yeah! I did it!!!!
While Di and Martha went diving to see turtles, sharks, thousands of fish and an abundance of hard and soft corals – the guys participated in two different types of sailboat races. The first sailboat race was in four matching 22 foot Merlins. They got neon green t-shirts to prove it, but they are most pleased with their 2nd place win – out of 8. The next race was in the hobie cats with a running start.
Rounding the first mark
The boys celebrating their 2nd place finish (out of 2 boats!)
Every night there has been a party. Before she left Fiji, Kylie had talked me in to signing up for a 3-minute speech in the “Why I Hate Sailing” contest. I spoke about the first time Peter and I went on a night crossing just the two of us. Mister Sensitivity said of course he would take it extra easy, but when I woke to a fully heeled boat in the pounding waves and heavy winds I freaked out. This was followed comments such as “why didn’t we just buy an f***ing power boat – and just go back to bed. After my attempts to reason with him (especially hard since I was hysterical), I resorted to punching him in the head when he wouldn’t reduce sail (not a really proud moment for either of us). Now, whenever we do a lone crossing he just wears a hockey helmet! With this sad, but true story, I won first prize. No pictures of course because I tend to be the photographer.
Bra dress up contest – lots of nonsense
Don and Martha kept saying all week “We are in fricking Fiji”!!!!
Beginning the limbo competition (alcohol and limbo do not mix)
Di and Anja - the dancing fools
Peter and I enjoying a dance together
We had a big lunch party on the sand bar which is in the middle of the ocean. It dries at low tide and so the Regatta organizers threw a huge barbeque with goofy games.
Hairy Chest contest
They also had a wet t-shirt contest, which I was crazy enough to participate in. I got a free t-shirt, what can I say? We have shamed Martha though because Peter was a chosen as a judge (his lucky day) and his job was to recruit women and give them a t-shirt to change in to. He gave Martha a t-shirt but she didn’t enter. Peter took his job very seriously and loved being a judge.
Lots of eye candy for the guys
I will not be posting pictures of me in this event on the blog, although when I got a hold of my camera there were certainly lots taken. Funny how that works! Anyway, it was a definite stepping out of my comfort zone and somewhat fueled by liquid courage. It’s fun to be wild and crazy at times.
Peter and Don on the sandbar
With all the parties and nonsense, we decided to have a quiet night on QuickStar. We played a little bridge and then cracked the overproof rum (57%) and our quiet night deteriorated into another night of laughing and dancing. Within no time Don and Peter had the Allman Brothers cranked and were giving us an air guitar concert.
Martha non-stop laughing
Halldo initiates our swim platform as a new dance floor
Hang on you dancing fool!
Cockpit air guitar
Cranking in up
Di and Halldo shaking it up
One evening just as we were having a cocktail Peter noticed that Ataris, the large 100 foot sailboat was drifting back. Sure enough she had dragged her anchor and the entire fleet was watching with binoculars as the sailboat hit the reef. What made this situation even worse is that the owner was not on board. The boat was meant to be waiting at Port Denerau for him, but since the regatta was going on the crew sailed her over to enjoy the week. It doesn’t seem that major damage was sustained. We are quite sure that the Captain will be brought to task over this. The crew is laying quite low.
Martha with the sunset in the background
The major event of the regatta week is a round- the- island sailboat race. There were 20 of us that participated in this. We got a slower start than we would have liked as we started on a windward course and didn’t have the timing quite down. It was blowing between 15 – 20 knots with the waves gaining momentum over the course of the 4-hour race.
Ready, set, go….
Peter kindly reefed both the main and the genny. He claims this was done to make me more comfortable, but truthfully it was because we were missing 15 inches of our rudder and didn’t want to have a serious situation, especially since our insurance becomes nul and void during a race.
Over the water bungalows on the side of the Island
In spite of our caution we managed to have a few exciting moments. We almost got hit by a boat as we turned around the first corner of the island. Close call! Then near the end of the race, the gennaker, which was in readiness on the bow, started coming out of the bag and going in the sea. It was clipped on the low side of the boat so Peter had to crawl up to it and grab it out of the water – while all the time being soaked by the breaking waves.
Just before we were about to cross the line and bring in the sails, Peter noticed that the furling line had caught on the genny drum (which means we couldn’t bring it in). Once again he was back on the bow and worked quickly to fix it.
It was an exhilarating race and lots of fun (which also means we didn’t place very well or else I’d be telling you about that).
Last night was the wrap up of the regatta where Peter and Don got their 2nd place Merlin award. We were treated to a traditional pig roast and an evening of Fijian entertainment.
Heading over in the dinghy to the wrap up evening
Di and Martha already “zooed” (as Martha would say) after Don was pouring the overproof rum drinks. Notice he is pretending he doesn’t even know us.
Great memories from this week together – to good friends!
Visiting with our friends David and Suzie from Sidewinder. Suzie came with us on our last dive. David was injured from the coconut throwing contest (truly) so he couldn’t come. Suzie was over at 6:30 this morning to say goodbye to us. Martha says that is her earliest visitor ever!
The evening getting underway. Let’s get this party started.
Don and Peter getting their 2nd place medals and a bottle of Bounty rum (just what we needed!)
Not so humbly celebrating their accomplishment
Di and Martha under the full moon
Shortly we will be heading back to Denereau for two days before Don and Martha catch their flight home. They have been fabulous guests - we’ve laughed all week and spent hours snorkeling in between races, dives and frivolity.
Originally the plan was for Don to stay an extra week to sail with us to Vanautu. Unfortunately, Peter’s Dad is not getting better and we have decided to end our cruising season two months early so that we can go to Burlington to help Peter’s Mom and spend some special time with Erich. We feel so very lucky to be able to do this.
Don has been wonderfully understanding about it and we hope he (and Martha) will join us for a crossing next year. We also had to cancel out on Dave, who was flying from New Zealand to New Caledonia to make the 9 day crossing to Australia. He too has been really understanding.
We managed to cancel all our Australian plans and have scrambled to make arrangements for QuickStar to get her rudder fixed and then stay in Fiji over the winter season at Vuda Point Marina. The good news about this is that we will see the kids and grandmunchken Addy in B.C. before flying out a day later to Toronto. We will also be able to see lots of family and friends in Ontario as we expect to be there for about 2 months (until Danny’s wedding in Mexico). Also can’t wait to see the fall colours.
So, this will be the last blog of the season. Thanks for dropping in to visit the blog from time to time. We sure loved getting emails and hearing from our friends and family back in Canada while we have been out here in the wild blue yonder. Keep in touch and treasure every sunrise – every sunset - and every day!
Sunset over Musket Cove
Until next season……live your adventure!
Sunrise Yoga
P.S. I will be escorting two women’s Ignite groups next spring before heading back to QuickStar. Early May will be a 3-night golf clinic and spa extravaganza at Sparkling Hills Resort and Predator Ridge Golf Course in Vernon, B.C. In mid-May I will be escorting a 10-day deluxe bike, hike and rafting trip through the Canyonlands and Moab. If you are interested in either or both, drop me an email at svquickstar@shaw.ca and I will email you the e-brochure as soon as it is completed in a couple of weeks.
The second printing of my book Financial Fitness for beginners is now available. www.financialfitnessbooks.com. Thanks to all of you who have ordered copies and for the rave reviews. Much appreciated.
