Unexpected Success!

The Pre-race "conference."

Doug usually takes all the pictures but was caught in this one...

The happy Avenger!

Full Moon crew Michael “Fourth!” Medina, Marcelle “Rum” Lynde, Doug “Tug” Schoemaker, Chuck “Droid” Weldy, Daniel “The Avenger” Mengedoht (AKA “Big Pour”), and skipper John “Seventh” Mengedoht went for yet another port tack start for Duck Dodge No. 13, which worked pretty well after ducking two starboard tack boats. This lead to a tight-reaching port tack drag race to the “Freeway” buoy and, as boats converged, Full Moon was unfortunately forced wide and outside and then further delayed as inside boats opted to hold off on tacking right away. This allowed a few boats to get by, though Full Moon caught a few in return on the close reach/beat to the Aurora buoy.

Approaching the buoy, there was again a lot of traffic and the shifty wind lead to a few extra tacks. Savvy sailors aboard the Catalina Almond Joy nailed the perfect line to the mark to round well ahead and, judging by all the boats in front, it looked like Full Moon would have to work a bit just to ensure a top ten finish.

A jibe-set of the mighty Equalizer went smoothly to send Full Moon toward the center of the lake and, hopefully, stronger breeze. Unfortunately, the jibe back to starboard was called too soon and Full Moon headed nearly dead downwind toward the AGC buoy. All the same, the large sail area began to help out and Full Moon began closing the gap to Almond Joy, ultimately pulling up inside and to leeward to make the pass just before the buoy. Passing boats always feels great!

Heading upwind to the finish, it was hard to tell which boats might be in third start and which might be from the earlier second start. Heading toward the line, a blue boat ahead got the horn from the Committee Boat to designate a top three finish. Could it be that Full Moon was that close to the lead? There was one boat between Full Moon and the finish – the big Buchan 37 Dreamscape. Dreamscape was forced to tack around a drifting powerboat while Full Moon nailed two smooth tacks to cross just ahead! As it turned out, Full Moon was an excellent fourth place, much to the amazement of her skipper who was certain several boats ahead were also from the third start.

It was yet another beautiful evening on the water (if a bit colder than it should be…) and the rum concoctions tasted great during the usual post-race cruise around the lake. Hard to believe there are only three races left this summer!