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Musket Cove Regatta: Pirate Day 2023

We were lucky enough to get on a winning catamaran called “Wow” last year during the 2022 Musket Cove Regatta. This year we arrived the day before the regatta and did not have a chance to secure a position for all three races.

There are over 100 sailboats in the anchorage and on the moorings.  It is packed!  About 80 boats signed up for the regatta this year.  But that does not necessarily mean that all 80 boats are racing.  For example, we signed up Sugar Shack but we don’t plan to race our home.  We signed up so we can participate in the challenges, games, opening and closing night dinners.

This is a great shot (taken by Musket Cove) of the Island Bar and the boats in the marina.

Day 1

Day 1 of the Musket Cove Regatta is the Beachcomber Pirate Date Race.  This is definitely the most fun race as anything goes!  We were lucky enough to secure a spot on a beatiful Fountaine Pajout catamaran called “Salty.”  We know Mel who is crew on it and she invited us on after we bribed her with jello shots and cookies.

Such a different experience from last year.  We were in party mode the minute we stepped onto the boat.  Everyone was carefree and jovial and ready for a good time.  With that said, we were still in a race and managed to get a pretty good position off the start line.

Like last year, we did not have much wind so it was a motor sail (anything goes in this race).  We sailed right past the marker with a bird who was just watching the excitement go by.  Matt tries to inflate his pirate sword and we arrive to Beachcomber island after 2hrs.  I think we were 5th in the catamaran category.

Once we get to shore we are immediately taken as prisoners.  They shout at us to behave or we will end up in the sandy grave yard.

We walk across red hot coals and are forced to take our rum vaccination. Can’t have a pirate day without rum!

Everyone dresses the pirate part.

The crew at the Beachcomber.

Funtabulous Time

This is Viki from Island Cruising, she is the organizer of our South Pacific Rally.

Cruisers like any excuse to dress up and drink.

My favorite pirate.

And then the silliness occurs…

Do I make a good sea monster?

Meet the “salty” crew.

Fijian Dancers

Such beautiful expressions

And the fire dancing

They really stepped up their show compared to last year!

The Salty crew successfully conquered Pirate Day!

Stay tuned for Part II of the Musket Cove Regatta 2023!  Coming soon

Our blog posts run 10-12 weeks behind actual live events.  This blog post occurred in early September.  Did you read our very cool post on Yadua and Yadua Taba?

Musket Cove Regatta: Beachcomber Race

The Beachcomber race is aptly named because it is a race to the island called “Beachcomber.”  This is a very unusual race as “anything goes.”  What does that mean exactly?  Well it means you can use your engines; you can use any sail configuration, and you can do pretty much anything to get yourself quickly to the island.

There are 3 prizes:  first boat to arrive, first captain to shore, and best pirate costume.

Here is the course:  it starts at the sand bank just south of Malolo island, then goes around the southern tip of Malolo and straight to Beachcomber.  The course is only 11nm so it should take us about an hour to get there in our super-fast boat.

On race day we have ridiculously light winds!  What a bummer, looks like it will be a motor sail.  We position ourselves near the start, wait for the horn, and off we go.  We are not first across the start line, but within 2 minutes we are in the lead.  Wow can motor at 10-11kts per hour with (2) 25hp outboard engines!  Yep, he has outboard engines.  Sugar Shack has (2) 50hp engines and we average 6kts!

A photo 5 minutes after the start taken from our stern.

It is pretty easy race as there is nothing we can really do under motor.  No sail changes, no tacking, no trimming.  So, the captain has us move up front to the bow to see if we can get more speed out of the boat.  And wouldn’t you know it, we gain a half a knot!

We are the first to cross the finish line and arrive at Beachcomber.

Dave, our captain jumps in the water as we anchor the boat.  He wants to be the first captain to shore. 

A Pirate’s Reception

After we secure the boat, a panga comes around to collect us.  We are immediately attacked by a bandit of pirates who hold us up at sword point and put nooses around our necks.  We are forced to walk single file, across hot burning coals, and told to take our rum vaccination shot!

Our winning team take photos under the Beachcomber sign

Outside there is a mass grave site and a hanging station.

Debauchery with Fellow Pirates

It is amazing how a little costume can make the inhibitions go away.  Well that and maybe a little liquor which was flowing freely.  These two lovely ladies are Mel and Claire.

Christine, Mel, Claire

Christine, Mel, Claire

Many joined in the fun with partial or full costumes.

Entertainment

After lunch, the Beachcomber resort brought out the dancers and fire walkers.  What a treat to see them this up close and personal!

Five dancers wowed us with their beauty, grace, and skill.

Then we went outside to see the fire walkers.  Not sure how they did it in the heat with the hot flames!

They lit flames using their hands and feet.

Truly amazing performers

AWARD TIME

Finally, it was time for the awards…First boat across the finish “Wow”, first captain to shore “Wow”, best pirate costume “Christine from Wow” we sweep the award ceremony.

I did not even know how they knew my name.

Time to head back while the sun was still out to show us the reefs.  We were the only boat to attempt to sail back, but it just got too much for the captain to be in last place so we turned on the engine about half way there.

What a spectacularly funny day!

The events from this blog occurred in early September 2022.  Our blog posts run 6-8 weeks behind actual events.  The world renowned Musket Cove regatta kicks off in our last blog