Catchup

The wind just before the start of the Toga Night Duck Dodge was nearly nonexistent but started to fill out of the NNW just as things got going. Full Moon crew Randy “Russians” Olsen, Robert “Nazis” Leykam, Rob “Take-Down” Lane, Daniel “Pole Control” Mengedoht, and skipper John “Move-It” Mengedoht set up for a port tack start near the Committee Boat but were early and had to turn down the line and then duck behind several boats on starboard tack. This was not a recipe for success as Full Moon crossed the line in about 11^th place. Once moving the right direction, though, Full Moon found good wind and speed and was able to pass several boats on the way to the Freeway buoy.

Rob takes a selfie with Randy, Daniel and Robert.

After rounding the Freeway buoy, Full Moon continued north nearly to the Gasworks shore, riding a lift and still in good breeze. The next tack then also provided a lift and Full Moon rounded the Aurora buoy in sixth or seventh place (it is hard to tell when J22s are in a variety of starts).

Cap'n John slides over for a photo. Randy is focused elsewhere.

The Equalizer was soon hoisted, and Full Moon worked past a few more boats into fourth place while gaining significantly on the top three boats, though not fast enough to catch up. The final leg was a straight shot to the finish line but made more interesting as a J22 passed the Committee Boat on the wrong side and had to come back to finish, though they still managed third place ahead of Full Moon in fourth.

Full Moon in fourth with the blue, black and white spinnaker.