Musket Cove

Situated on Malolo Lai Lai,  to the south of the Mamanuca islands, this major tourist mecca for travelers to Fiji, started out as a major meeting place for cruisers. Today the  financial impact of cruising yachts is negligible, but it still serves as a great place where cruisers can get together to socialize.

The facilities are all aimed, (and priced) for fly in tourists, and include everything from kite boarding and windsurfing, through diving to sky diving! Seaplanes, helicopters and high speed catamarans bring in shed loads of lily white holiday makers, and return them in shades from scarlet to  golden brown!

Fiji’s international Nadi airport is only about 7 miles from Denarau, which, in turn, is only about 10/11miles from Musket Cove. It is only about 20 miles from Lautoka, and 15 from Vuda Point Marina, so is very conveniently located. It is only a 2-3 hour sail into Saweni Bay, and if one is lucky enough, one can catch a decent fish en route!

  There are two other resorts on Malolo Lai Lai, Plantation, and another adults only resort, a time share resort, which is part of Musket Cove, plus a number of private luxury homes. Every  foreign  registered yacht can sign in for life time membership to be able to use the facilities.($5 for the skipper, and $10 for each crew member.) Dick’s Restaurant, the Dollar Bar with barbeques, cafes, watersport services, ablution blocks, laundry and garbage disposal make all make it quite attractive when one craves a bit of luxury!

There is a steady stream of cruising yachts passing through, some of which are a bit more “flash”, and slightly bigger than ourselves!

As is the case everywhere in Fiji waters, one has to be aware of reefs , but to my mind, another less talked about danger, is the speeding power boats, dive boats, taxi boats, who feel zip about speeding in and amongst anchored yachts.

There is also a busy powered pirate ship “Whale Tale”,(with token sail), which does daily trips, bristling with punters, between Denarau, and Bounty Island/Treasure Island.  The skipper has no clue about “Rules of the Road” and

 right of way at sea. Yesterday, while we were having a great sail back, doing 7.0 -7.5 knots, on a starboard tack, the idiot skipper felt he could pass clear in front of us safely, and give his punters a little bit of excitement to boot! He was wrong, and we had to harden up 30degrees at the last moment to pass behind hind, before reverting to our course.  And clearly, we are not the only boat with whom he has played “chicken”, as we have heard a couple of yachts demanding over the VHF, that he makes his intentions clear! He is now referred to as the Whale Tale Wanker on Sheer Tenacity!

Perhaps he is a relocated South African Taxi driver?