Rock the Boat!

Martini Night crew, minus Suzan, who took the picture.
Is anybody moving?

The final Duck Dodge of summer is always Martini Night aboard Full Moon and so it was this week. Crew Randy “Big Pour” Olsen, Art “Moballast” Teller, Grace “OJ Plus” Teller, Michael “Lounge Lizard” Medina, Eileen “Taste of Honey” McHugh, Suzan “No Protection” Schneider, and skipper John “Visualize Vermouth” Mengedoht were pleased that rain held off but dismayed to see nary a ripple of wind on the water.

All three starts began with the fleet parked on the starting line and soon a variety of methods of cheating were displayed as it became apparent that finishing the short course before dark would be unlikely if relying on legal means of propulsion. Full Moon and several other boats employed the time tested sculling of the rudder and then the more obvious rocking the boat from side to side to create some momentum while some others resorted to using their motors. The most entertaining cheating was employed by Mata Hari, who hoisted their spinnaker and then motored around the course backward to provide a full sail, roughly the sailing equivalent of moon walking.

Full Moon actually did manage to sail around the course after the initial bit of cheating, though at speeds that never topped one knot. Our “finish” was, of course, not legal and not counted. Of much more importance were pouring drinks and serving up appetizers to celebrate the end of the season.

It was a great summer and great fun was had by all. Full Moon may do the Rum Run on October 17 but otherwise won’t return to racing until the Goosebumps in mid-January so it’s back to cruising for awhile.

Fading Light

Full Moon crew Randy “Halyards” Olsen, Art “Smooth Jibe” Teller, Grace “Freshman” Teller, Chuck “Hercules” Weldy, and skipper John “No Doughnut” Mengedoht hit the starting line at full speed and right at the horn for the next to last Duck Dodge. Unfortunately, this was near the disadvantaged end of the line but the location did provide clear “air” and Full Moon was, for a short while at least, in second place. A collision at the AGC buoy between a dark blue Thunderbird and 36-foot Mata Hari created a large knot of boats which forced Full Moon to the outside for a painful rounding but prompt hoisting of the mighty Equalizer spinnaker offset most of the loss.

A smooth jibe at the Challenger buoy led to a long run up the lake with Full Moon holding even with nearby boats, though all the traditional rivals were already well behind. The second lap was similar to the first, apart from Mata Hari developing a nasty twist in their huge asymmetrical spinnaker during a jibe, perhaps a bit of karma for hitting the Thunderbird.

Starting the final leg upwind, Full Moon was tenth, just behind two blue T-birds. Holding to the middle of the lake brought a bit stronger breeze and some favorable shifts to push Full Moon ahead but then the trend reversed and the dratted Birds crossed just ahead. However, it was quite nice to finish ahead of Mata Hari, Tenacious, assorted J22s and J24s and at least half a lap ahead of old rivals Ignitor, Fortis, and Shogun.