Toga, Toga, Toga!

Full Moon crew Michael “Mister” Medina, Marcelle “Missus” Van Houten, Neil “Jib Sheet” Piispanen, Daniel “No Tunes” Mengedoht, and skipper John “Wind Shadow” Mengedoht managed to pull off a port tack start at the Committee Boat for the Toga Night Duck Dodge, ghosting out ahead of the fleet in very light wind. The advantage didn’t last, however, as boats further west received better breeze, Full Moon rounding the Freeway buoy about sixth.

A massive Chinook helicopter buzzed the Duck Dodge!

Heading nearly to the beach at Gasworks was almost but not quite enough to provide a one-tack leg to the Aurora buoy. Once around, the Equalizer was quickly hoisted to good effect, Full Moon moving nicely on a beam reach. The wind favored the middle of the lake, though, and Full Moon was too far west to benefit, allowing Scat and another boat or two to get past.

Full Moon is on the right, having just tacked at Gasworks.

After a relatively smooth drop at the AGC buoy, it was a straight shot north to complete the first lap and round the Freeway buoy. This time, heading for the beach paid off with no tacks required to round the Aurora buoy. The Equalizer again went up quickly and this time Full Moon headed closer to the middle of the lake. Unfortunately, relative giant Mallory Todd (not sure if they were racing?) crossed ahead and then turned parallel, providing a massive wind shadow. Full Moon struggled for half the leg to gain some lateral separation and break free, finally doing so a couple of hundred yards short of the AGC buoy. Meanwhile, well sailed 22 foot Mustache Ride was able to sneak past to leeward.

The final leg was another straight shot to the finish, Full Moon placing around tenth not far behind Mustache Ride. This was pretty decent considering that second start contained an Olson 30, two Hobie 33s, and a J92S, all rating less than 100 in PHRF NW handicapping.