80% Chance of Weather

Big Dave, John, and Judy heading out from the marina.

Just ahead of Zephyr after a near-perfect start.

Items to leeward are not as close as they appear....

Chasing Selchie in very light air on the long leg to the AGC buoy.

The forecast for Duck Dodge No. 3 (Sam Garvin Memorial Night) called for 80% chance of rain and a consistent 10 knots of breeze out of the southwest. Prepping Full Moon for battle, there certainly was rain but not much wind. Prior to the start, the rain was gone, the sun popped out (for a while), and the lake turned to glass with the faintest hint of air coming out of the west. Not that I’m complaining about the sun, mind you.

Full Moon crew Michael “Highland Park” Medina, Dave “Dry Drop” Pulsifer, Judy “Slow Leak” Tiffany, and skipper John “Hard to Pass” Mengedoht maneuvered just in front of rival Zephyr and nailed the start near the Committee Boat. Farther west, the blue T-bird Selchie and J80 Heart Attack (which we assumed was in first start) were not far behind, though, and both found just enough more wind to squeeze out ahead. With the mighty Equalizer spinnaker up, Full Moon kept up to round the Freeway buoy, presumably in second place (more on that later), and ahead of a few first start boats.

Full Moon continued to chase Selchie across the lake toward the Aurora buoy. Old rival Ignitor snuck up from behind but was never really a threat as they were also a ways off to leeward. Full Moon maintained a good line all the way to the buoy but Selchie came in on starboard tack with right of way, requiring Full Moon to duck behind before rounding.

The long leg to the AGC buoy alternated between a beam reach and close-hauled in very light air. Selchie managed to stretch out their lead as Full Moon held off a couple of bigger boats. After rounding the buoy, the mighty Equalizer was launched again and Full Moon began to slowly reel in Selchie.

However, as Selchie passed the Committee Boat, a horn sounded – the Committee had shortened the race to a single lap! Unfortunately, there was no horn for Full Moon as we were placed fourth, though this was still an excellent finish and cause for celebration. The question was who had finished ahead of Selchie?

It turns out Salsa (J29) was scored in first place, though we never saw her, and Heart Attack was scored in second. Given that Heart Attack’s sister ship Crazy Ivan is typically in first start and a J29 rates the same (PHRF 123), it is a mystery to me why these boats continue to race in second start. While Full Moon dabbled with third start last summer at the suggestion/invitation of the Race Committee, it was clear that her natural competition was in second start and we switched back. Salsa and Heart Attack, please take the hint!