Solid Gold

Early morning with fall colors under the Aurora Bridge. Tammy Cross photo.

Full Moon crew Tammy "Commodore" Cross, Marcelle "Hot Buttered Rum" Lynde, Michael "Sponge Butt" Medina, and skipper John "The Kraken" Mengedoht headed out on the Sound Saturday for the Duck Dodge Rum Run. The voyage out through the Ship Canal went fairly smoothly until Tipsy Gypsy cut in front of all the waiting boats at the locks. Fortunately, Full Moon still made it without having to wait for the next load of boats, though at least one other sailboat wasn’t so lucky.

With a little extra time before the start, Full Moon popped into Shilshole to rig for racing and hit the shore-side restrooms one last time. Heading out to the starting area off the breakwater showed a good-sized fleet of over 60 boats, including many boats that don’t often venture onto Lake Union for regular Duck Dodge races. Observing the lineup, it was clear that some seriously fast boats were going to race in the second start, cementing Full Moon’s place in third start (at least for the Rum Run).

Maneuvering for the start, Full Moon hoped to be about midway down the line on starboard tack but the already light wind faded a bit and Full Moon ended up crossing about a minute late. Rival Runner appeared to nail the start, though one of their crew confided later that they were actually in second start and were just massively late to the line!

Tammy, John, and Marcelle sailing upwind. Michael Medina photo.

Heading upwind to the West Point buoy, many boats stayed closer to shore to try and stay out of the ebb tide, while some headed out in hopes of stronger wind. Full Moon stayed in, but not so close as to risk losing the wind altogether, and focused on having a clear lane. A pesky Catalina tacked right onto “our” wind but a “stealth tack” put Full Moon back into undisturbed wind and allowed us to cross ahead when the boats next came close.

Approaching the buoy, Full Moon was following the San Juan 28 Zephyr in on starboard tack and hoping not to have to tack again as the current pushed us downwind. Two boats came in on port on a tighter line and tacked in front, making it even harder but Full Moon managed to squeak by the buoy with a foot to spare. Launching the mighty Equalizer, the Wavelength 21 Wild Honey ahead was lost to view under the nylon cloud until Full Moon very nearly piled into her stern. A loud hail from her skipper averted disaster, though, as Full Moon quickly turned away.

Full Moon (left), Slingshot (middle), and Fortis (right) under spinnaker.

The long broad reach to the Meadow Point buoy north of Shilshole saw Full Moon slowly reel in first Zephyr and then old rival Fortis (which had a five minute lead from second start). Meanwhile, Runner chose to sail a higher line in towards Shilshole, perhaps planning to gybe back out, but they ran into a zone of much lighter wind and appeared parked for a while.

With a quick hoist of the jib and a fairly clean drop of the spinnaker, Full Moon was around the buoy and off across the Sound for the finish in Port Madison at the northern tip of Bainbridge Island. This leg was all about boat speed as the rhumb line was a tight reach. A few boats chose a lower course in order to fly a spinnaker while Zephyr, Fortis, and Runner chose to sail higher (perhaps planning to fly spinnakers later), but Full Moon had good speed in a straight line to the finish and stayed with that plan.

Meanwhile, the J30 Slingshot and a gray-blue J24 had been slowly gaining on Full Moon, both finally getting past to leeward about 2/3 of the way across the Sound. Zephyr gained a little for a while and then fell back but Runner continued to make slow but steady gains from behind. The final two miles were tense as we really didn’t know which boats were in third start, except, we thought, for Runner. Approaching the finish line, we queried the Committee Boat, “How did we do?!?” The magnificent answer was a toot on the air horn and a single raised (index) finger – Full Moon was first!!!

Thanks for the Duck!

Applying the coveted Gold Duck sticker! Tammy Cross photo.

Full Moon lowered the jib and fired up the iron sail to swing back by the Committee Boat and pick up the highly prized Gold Duck sticker. Then it was time to join the giant raft-up of boats in the sheltered waters of Port Madison. Always a great party, rum and beer were flowing, grills were cooking, and sun-drenched racers, many in costume for Halloween, hopped from boat to boat. A few brave (or drunken) sailors even took a dip in the 50 degree water.

Michael, Marcelle, Tammy, and Cap'n John enjoying the late afternoon sun.

The raft-up of over 40 boats in Port Madison. Tammy Cross photo.

Sunset over the Sound. Tammy Cross photo.

All too soon, it was time to head back to Seattle. Motoring back across the Sound, who should appear but Tipsy Gypsy. It appeared we were fated to share the locks once again. Arriving at the locks, the valiant Committee Boat Dux was first in line, tied to the timber wall past the railroad bridge and waiting for the next opening. Full Moon’s relatively short mast fit under the bridge (which was closed) and we proceeded to tie up behind Dux. Then, incredibly, as the bridge opened, Tipsy Gypsy went ahead of Dux to grab a spot in front of the line! Great rudeness generates a lot of bad karma, though, and, as the lock opened, Tipsy Gypsy had a mooring line stuck on the wall. Several boats, including Dux, Zephyr and Full Moon, motored on ahead before Tipsy Gypsy finally got free to take up the very back end of the lock. Then a slim Thunderbird, which had patiently waited their turn, was ushered ahead of them to squeeze next to Full Moon in the middle of the lock. Tipsy Gypsy’s skipper was clearly not pleased to be last but we rather enjoyed the irony of the situation!