Skipper's Choice

The third Duck Dodge these was Skipper's Choice and, given the forecast, Full Moon's skipper chose not to race! Based on weather radar at 6:40 PM, this was wise, though apparently the rain stopped before the first start.

Space Cadet

The Equalizer (masthead spinnaker) was nicely packed but forgotten at home by skipper John “Space Cadet” Mengedoht. Adding insult to injury, the skipper managed to position Full Moon poorly for the start of the “Onesie” Duck Dodge, crossing the line about 17^th. Fortunately, crew Randy “Chips” Olsen, Daniel “Trunk Monkey” Mengedoht, and Rob “Pack Up and Go” Lane were more adept and Full Moon began slowly picking off the competition on the first upwind leg to the Freeway buoy.

Full Moon continued to gain on the leg to the Aurora buoy. After rounding, the standard spinnaker was hoisted but the skipper had set things up to use the masthead (wrong) halyard, the result being a relatively small spinnaker high above the deck with the pole angled skyward. This still worked but Full Moon struggled to escape from being stuck in bad air with a boat to either side for half the leg.

That yellow and orange spinnaker looks funny....

Regardless, Full Moon managed to advance to seventh place just before the AGC buoy. Unfortunately, the jib sheet hung up during the jibe at the buoy and a T-bird got past during the chaos. The final leg was a tight reach in gusty conditions. A sleek old Kettenburg (Sommerfugl) managed to get by to windward and Full Moon dropped back to ninth, still remarkable given the start.

Silver to Start

Nice way to start the season!

Full Moon crew Randy “Rusty” Olsen, Daniel “Long Drink” Mengedoht, and skipper John “Lucky” Mengedoht enjoyed an excellent start for the first Duck Dodge of 2024, leading the fleet until the speedy Ultimate 20 Mr. Nibbles slid past. (Mr. Nibbles continued on to an easy win.) A white T-bird (Makima?) also got past on the way to the Freeway buoy, dropping Full Moon to third.

Full Moon and Tailwind after finishing.

The second leg was largely strategic, trying to go where the light breeze was stronger while playing the shifts upwind. Full Moon passed the tail end of the second start fleet and managed to catch up to the T-bird but couldn’t quite cross on port tack and had to duck behind before rounding the Aurora buoy.

Full Moon enjoying the sunset after the race.

Once around, the Equalizer was deployed, at first wanting to collapse in the light air. Then the wind began to fill in and shift forward and Full Moon soon left the bulk of the fleet behind, including the T-bird. We also were slowly gaining on more second start boats, including the Choate 27 Gift Horse.

It wasn't that warm but it was a beautiful evening!

With just three aboard, the spinnaker drop was started a bit early, but it went well, the pole properly stowed just before rounding the AGC buoy. Then it was a straight shot close reach to the finish line with Full Moon taking second place for the silver duck. The Capri 25 Tailwind wasn’t too far behind to take third.