Invisible Buoys

Randy, Galina & "Cap'n John"

Art, a self-portrait

Michael, enjoying the sun

Full Moon returned to racing Tuesday with the first Duck Dodge of the year. Crew Randy “Smooth-Drop” Olsen, Art “Pole Up” Teller, Michael “Telltales” Medina, Galina “Rookie” Gordeeva, and skipper John “Not That I Can See” Mengedoht had a great start, actually flirting with being over early. Being overpowered in gusty wind made for a fun, if not especially efficient, upwind leg and a last-second double tack to make the AGC buoy allowed old rival Shogun to slip by with Fortis hot on our heels.

The second leg was a beam reach and Full Moon stuck with a jib in the strong breeze while Fortis tried to gain under spinnaker. The next buoy, however, was nowhere to be seen so boats just went to where a buoy usually would be and made the turn northward. After a jibe at the turn, Full Moon launched the infamous Equalizer spinnaker, left Fortis well behind, and began to make gains on Shogun.

After a smooth spinnaker douse at the “Freeway” buoy, things were looking good until a mainsheet block parted ways with the traveler car! Somehow Full Moon maintained approximately the right course while the boom was held down by hand and repairs were made, though there was no chance to make any gains on Shogun. Rounding the “Aurora” buoy, though, the length of the lake awaited for an upwind slog and Full Moon had her chance to catch and pass our oldest rival.

The second lap was very similar to the first except that Full Moon held position and didn’t break anything! Heading to the finish, yet another buoy had disappeared so Full Moon steered close to the Committee Boat to ensure being noticed crossing the “line.” Full Moon ended up a very respectable eighth, just behind the Thunderbird Selchie, Scat, and Runner. Shogun held on for ninth and Fortis was back around sixteenth, over a leg behind.