Long John Silver

Ahhrrr, mateys, we've got the silver!

Full Moon crew Randy “Twisted Pole” Olsen, Don “Too Much Moderation” Caffrey, Dave “Alzheimer Donuts” Pulsifer, Angie “Shoulda Been Gold” Tomisser, Daniel “Chernobyl Cherry Coke” Mengedoht, and skipper John “Long John” Mengedoht dodged a boat foolishly trying to motor through the start while hoisting sails and absolutely nailed the start for the Pirate Night Duck Dodge. Cranking along upwind in a decent breeze, Full Moon held off the usual competition of Sushi (Santana 20), Anakena (Ranger 22), and True Blue (another Ranger 22) to the Challenger buoy at the Southeast corner of Lake Union. Once around, it took a minute or two to launch the mighty Equalizer spinnaker but it served well to hold off all challengers all the way to the Freeway buoy.

Heading back upwind in a decent breeze, lightly loaded Sushi began to make gains on Full Moon with True Blue not far behind. Sushi eventually got past but Full Moon kept close while continuing to stay ahead of True Blue.

Rounding the AGC buoy, the Equalizer was launched once again. It wasn’t quite enough to catch Sushi but Full Moon cruised to a relatively easy second place and the coveted Silver Duck. True Blue caught the Bronze a few minutes later.

After the finish, another third start boat cruised by and complained that Full Moon, with her “racing sails,” belongs in second start with the “racing” boats. Lest anyone think Full Moon has anything exotic in her sail inventory, the main and genoa are fully 12 years old and, while not made in the classic woven white, are still just made of good old Dacron. The mighty Equalizer is even older, having been purchased used in 2001!

Regardless, I would readily agree with the complaint if it weren’t for boats like J29s (Salsa), Olson 30s (Chaos) and J80s (Heart Attack, Crazy Ivan) continuing to race in second start. It was the Race Committee who suggested Full Moon switch to third start last summer. I agreed to switch, largely because the definition of a “half-fast” boat seems to have changed. I may yet switch back, though – being in the top three for five weeks in a row is great fun but it is also fun to race for two laps instead of one and to take on Thunderbirds and Ranger 26s and J22s – our more natural prey!