Best Comeback Ever!

Wigs provide some Pride Night color on Full Moon.

If you’re never over-early, you’re probably not trying hard enough. So it was that Full Moon and one other boat were across the starting line just before the horn for the Pride Night Duck Dodge, requiring us to circle around the end buoy to restart and costing a few minutes. Full Moon crew Michael “Who, Me?” Medina, Marcelle “Eagle Eye” Van Houten, Daniel “Big Six” Mengedoht, Leslie “Shutter Bug” Synnestvedt, and skipper John “Legendary” Mengedoht nonetheless found a nice upwind groove to the Freeway buoy, which was placed a bit farther west than normal. This apparently confused quite a few boats, which proceeded farther north than necessary to round the fixed Gasworks green buoy rather than the official Duck Dodge buoy. The good news for Full Moon was that this allowed us to advance from near the back of the fleet to closer to the middle.

Full Moon and a Hobie 33 were just barely early across the starting line.

Well-placed tacks to pick up the wind shifts brought Full Moon past a few more boats to the Aurora buoy where the mighty Equalizer was soon launched. Favoring the middle of the lake to escape the wind shadow of boats to windward, Full Moon got past a few more boats on the long broad reach south, culminating in passing speedy Necessary Evil (Catalina 30) just before the AGC buoy.

Getting past Necessary Evil.

A straight shot upwind to the finish line widened the lead over boats behind and, much to our amazement, we received the horn for third place! Given the disastrous start, this was surely Full Moon’s best comeback of all time.

Skipper's Choice

Early on the first leg to AGC. Can you spot Full Moon?

Full Moon crew Randy “NA” Olsen, Chad “Amber Ale” Harnish, Carey “Azimuth” Reibman, Daniel “Dry” Mengedoht, and skipper John “Not Dry” Mengedoht intended to set up near the middle of the starting line for the Skipper’s Choice Duck Dodge but ended up a bit too far back and in a crowded pack of boats near the “pin” end. Starting eleventh isn’t a recipe for success but Full Moon soon moved up to eighth on the first upwind leg (SW wind) to the AGC buoy.

Daniel at his normal station when not on the bow.

The Equalizer was quickly launched for the long second leg, Full Moon threading through boats heading in the opposite direction. The wind was just right for great speed, Full Moon nearly getting up on a plane at one point. Nearing the Freeway buoy, Full Moon had moved up into fifth place.

Cap'n John with a post-race cold beverage.

The third leg was a straight shot nearly close-hauled to the Aurora buoy. Full Moon managed to pass one boat only to have a J22 squeeze inside to round the buoy ahead. The final leg was upwind where Full Moon crossed the line still fifth but way ahead of the rest of the fleet.

Late For the Prom

Full Moon is beyond the red J24 at the start.

Full Moon crew Michael “Almost 70” Medina, Daniel “Chaperone” Mengedoht, Kristen “Perfect Drop” Rue, and skipper John “Early” Mengedoht prepared for the Prom Night Duck Dodge with Tux t-shirts and our traditional mirror ball. Unfortunately, skipper John approached the starting area a bit early and ended up near the “pin” end and trapped to leeward of relative giant (Catalina 36) Tranquilitee. Once able to duck behind and to windward of Tranquilitee, which appeared unable to point very well, Full Moon was near the back of the pack.

Michael holds the jib sheet.

This intolerable situation didn’t last too long, Full Moon gaining on the first leg and passing Tranquilitee via a well-timed “slam dunk” tack. Rounding the Freeway buoy meant just continuing straight for Gasworks and tacking near the shore. This reduced the number of tacks needed to reach the Aurora buoy. With a starboard tack approach locked in with sufficient time, the spinnaker pole was raised and the Equalizer launched just after rounding the buoy.

Daniel mans the "pit."

Full Moon then managed to pass three boats with spinnakers on the broad reaching leg south while gaining nicely on a fourth boat approaching the AGC buoy. The Equalizer came down perfectly but there was an issue yet again with the pole after jibing around the buoy. (The extra long “turbo” pole can be challenging to stow.)

Full Moon (blue, black and white spinnaker) heading for the AGC buoy.

The final leg upwind was a straight shot, and Full Moon crossed the line in what we believe was seventh place, not at all bad given the poor start. Meanwhile, it was a gorgeous warm evening with a nice breeze, a welcome rarity in June.

Barbie and Two Kens

Full Moon crew Daniel “Steady On” Mengedoht, Anne “Socks” Gustavson, and skipper John “Golden” Mengedoht were a little short-handed again and opted for fourth start (no spinnakers) in the Barbie Night Duck Dodge. The wind was very light out of the northeast for the start and Full Moon opted for better clear air over the advantaged but crowded pin end of the line. Unfortunately, a couple of larger boats got past in the first hundred yards.

Full Moon approaches the starting line.

The wind improved slightly approaching the Freeway buoy but a boat close behind to leeward prevented a tack until getting close to Gasworks. This proved helpful, though, as the resulting course heading west generally had better wind than some other options. A tack near the Westlake shore ended up bringing Full Moon right to the Aurora buoy for a tight rounding to avoid traffic.

Slingshot (left) and Necessary Evil (right) sneaking up from behind.

Once around, it was difficult to escape the wind shadow from third start boats Slingshot and Necessary Evil, both flying large spinnakers. Heading toward the middle of the lake (always a good idea) eventually brought clear air and Full Moon passed both boats, at least for a while, despite not flying a spinnaker. Unfortunately, speedy Summer Salt (Harbor 20) got better wind from behind and ended up ahead at the AGC buoy as the breeze finally filled in.

The wind slowly fills in. That may be Full Moon on the far left.

It was a straight shot to the finish line where Full Moon expected to be second (at best) behind Summer Salt, but it turned out they were in third start and Full Moon got the horn for first place!

Daniel holds the proof - a Gold Duck!