Copra Shed Marina, Savusavu
Copra Shed Marina · Savusavu Marina
16°46.80'S 179°20.52'E
Depth
4–10m
Bottom
mud
Alarm Radius
45m
Holding
Excellent
Recommended Anchor Alarm Radius
45m
45m for excellent holding on mud in 4–10m at the Copra Shed Marina. Fully enclosed bay — minimal swing. Marina berths: 20m alarm is sufficient alongside. Mooring buoys: 45m adequate. The mud is excellent — anchor will not drag in any conditions short of a direct cyclone hit.
About This Anchorage
The Copra Shed Marina at Savusavu is one of the most celebrated cruising hubs in the South Pacific — a converted 19th-century copra storage building on the Savusavu wharf that now serves as the social and operational heart of Fiji cruising. The marina provides berths, mooring buoys, fuel, water, a well-known café and bar (with excellent wi-fi and the bulletin board for Pacific passage information), laundry, and a welcoming cruiser community. It is the primary staging point for the Lau Group — sailors planning the outer Lau Group passage invariably stop here for final provisioning, to obtain the Lau Provincial Council permit, and to gather weather information. The facility is also known as the best starting point for the Taveuni Firewalking Village and Somosomo Strait diving. The Copra Shed's café is famous throughout the Pacific cruising circuit.
Protected From
N · NE · NW · E · W · S
Exposed To
None (fully sheltered)
Anchoring Rules
- Anchoring fee
- Marina berths FJD 25–40/night; mooring buoys FJD 15–25/night
- Permit required
- Yes
- Permit details
- Lau Provincial Council permit required for outer Lau Group — obtain at Savusavu or in Suva before departure.
Restrictions: Customs clearance at Savusavu wharf (adjacent). Q flag mandatory. Marina berths by VHF 16 allocation. No anchoring in the immediate marina area.
Hazards
- !Busy wharf area — ferry and commercial traffic; maintain clear passage on approach
- !Limited berths — peak season (July–September) fills quickly; call ahead on VHF 16
Skipper's Tips
- →The Copra Shed café bulletin board is the best source of real-time Lau Group passage conditions — read it carefully
- →Obtain the Lau Provincial Council permit here before attempting the outer Lau Group — the staff know the current permit process
- →Stock every provision you can carry at Savusavu — the Lau Group has absolutely nothing
- →The diesel at the Copra Shed fuel dock is the last reliable fuel source before the Lau Group or Taveuni passage
- →The Pacific cruisers who have completed the Lau Group are the best source of current waypoints and anchoring conditions — buy them a drink
Facilities
Copra Shed Marina café and bar — excellent, popular with Pacific cruisers. Wi-fi. Laundry. Ice. Fuel dock. Full marina services. Morris Hedstrom supermarket 200m away.
Nearest provisions: Morris Hedstrom supermarket (200m from marina) (0.1nm)
Best Months & Season
May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
May–October preferred. Year-round available. The staging base for Lau Group and Taveuni/Somosomo Strait passages.
Recommended Anchor Types
Nearby Anchorages
Set Your Anchor Alarm to 45m
In remote Lau Group and Vanua Levu waters, anchor drag with no assistance available is extremely serious. Safety Anchor Alarm monitors your GPS continuously — the most important piece of safety equipment in the remote Pacific.
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