Gaining on Runner.
Yes, all those boats are behind us!
Scat is gaining...
Chuck with post-race beer.
More beer for Katie and Caroline...The Race Committee for the Pajama Night Duck Dodge (July 21) finally set a starting line so skewed that it was not even close to possible to cross on starboard tack. Full Moon crew Michael “Spider Man” Medina, Katie “Good Luck Charm” Freels, Caroline “Strategist” Sneed, Chuck “Maximum Exposure” Weldy, and skipper John “Surgeon” Mengedoht went for a port tack start at the heavily favored “pin” end and the slightly risky move paid off with our best start of the season, third to cross the line.
Full Moon held position for much of the upwind leg to the Aurora buoy until a hot Rocket 20 got by and then both a J27 and the always well-sailed Ranger 26, Runner. Full Moon gained a bit under the Equalizer spinnaker downwind but not enough to pass anyone. Two red Thunderbirds were working hard to catch up but so far to no avail. Meanwhile, the beers were out a bit earlier than normal – the crew was hot and thirsty!
The Equalizer came down fairly well (it stayed dry...) but there was trouble with the topping lift for the pole as Full Moon jibed around the AGC buoy and the third leg began with the jib hung up and useless. It was quickly cleared but Full Moon had lost ground. It was a straight shot upwind to the Freeway buoy. On came faster Scat and Full Moon was dropped to sixth.
Heading on a tight reach for the finish, the red Thunderbirds were pushing hard in a strong breeze and gaining despite Full Moon’s attempts to hold them off. To make matters worse, relative giants Mata Hari (Catalina 36) and Distance (Buchan 37) were charging up from behind as well.
At the finish line, Mata Hari had forged ahead and the T-birds both just barely got by (rats!). Distance, however, managed to collide with both Mata Hari AND the finish line buoy as they crossed so their “finish” did not count and Full Moon took ninth. It may seem demoralizing to start third and finish ninth but Full Moon sailed well for the most part and, to be fair, most of the boats that finished ahead were simply faster boats, especially upwind and with a decent breeze on. Regardless, the sky was cloudless, the beer was ice cold, the setting was fabulous, and the crew was great fun as always. Claims from the Hokey Pokey notwithstanding, that’s what it’s all about!
Full Moon held position for much of the upwind leg to the Aurora buoy until a hot Rocket 20 got by and then both a J27 and the always well-sailed Ranger 26, Runner. Full Moon gained a bit under the Equalizer spinnaker downwind but not enough to pass anyone. Two red Thunderbirds were working hard to catch up but so far to no avail. Meanwhile, the beers were out a bit earlier than normal – the crew was hot and thirsty!
The Equalizer came down fairly well (it stayed dry...) but there was trouble with the topping lift for the pole as Full Moon jibed around the AGC buoy and the third leg began with the jib hung up and useless. It was quickly cleared but Full Moon had lost ground. It was a straight shot upwind to the Freeway buoy. On came faster Scat and Full Moon was dropped to sixth.
Heading on a tight reach for the finish, the red Thunderbirds were pushing hard in a strong breeze and gaining despite Full Moon’s attempts to hold them off. To make matters worse, relative giants Mata Hari (Catalina 36) and Distance (Buchan 37) were charging up from behind as well.
At the finish line, Mata Hari had forged ahead and the T-birds both just barely got by (rats!). Distance, however, managed to collide with both Mata Hari AND the finish line buoy as they crossed so their “finish” did not count and Full Moon took ninth. It may seem demoralizing to start third and finish ninth but Full Moon sailed well for the most part and, to be fair, most of the boats that finished ahead were simply faster boats, especially upwind and with a decent breeze on. Regardless, the sky was cloudless, the beer was ice cold, the setting was fabulous, and the crew was great fun as always. Claims from the Hokey Pokey notwithstanding, that’s what it’s all about!
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