Moving Target

For the first time in 17 years (!), Full Moon was over the starting line early, approaching the Committee Boat on starboard tack and then tacking to cross the line when there was no option to fall off. Crew Randy “Tack Now” Olson, Daniel “Hollywood Reporter” Mengedoht, Michael “Crikey” Ward, and skipper John “Early Bird” Mengedoht quickly whipped back around the Committee Boat and managed to properly cross the starting line in about 20th place.

Full Moon crosses the starting line early. Drat!

With decent north wind, Full Moon ended up heading for the middle of the lake as the gravel barge came past Gasworks a bit earlier than normal. After dodging a drifting power boat, Full Moon then tacked on the layline to the Freeway buoy. Not long afterwards, it was observed that a second-start boat had managed to snag the Freeway buoy on their rudder and were dragging it westward while attempting to dislodge it with a boat hook. This effectively shortened the course for Full Moon and many others as we chased after the moving buoy!

Full Moon is on the right, chasing the J30 with the orange, yellow and blue striped spinnaker.

The Aurora buoy was set a bit further south than usual and Full Moon easily laid the mark without further tacks. Unfortunately, the “turbo” spinnaker pole was preset to starboard, and the wind angle called for a jibe after rounding. Full Moon proceeded with the jib toward the middle of the lake before jibing and hoisting the Equalizer, though we should have waited just a bit longer before jibing for a better wind angle.

All the same, the Equalizer provided good power and Full Moon passed several boats before a clean drop and rounding of the AGC buoy, just behind a J30. Only one more tack was needed to cross the finish line where it turned out Full Moon was in fourth place, with the J30 third. Given the start and the fact that a J30 should easily outpace little Full Moon, we’ll call that a win!

The sun broke free of the clouds after the race.