Over Early!

Full Moon is just a bit early across the line. The Hobie was from another start.

Since scoring three “ducks” in third start in four tries, Full Moon advanced to second start for the Derby Night Duck Dodge. With very light wind out of the northwest, Full Moon was positioned close to the starting line but left no room to maneuver vs. other boats and was forced across the line early. (It didn’t help that two dinghies were still checking in with the Race Committee on the starting line side!) With virtually no hope of a top three finish, Full Moon elected to just continue sailing rather than spend ages trying to re-round the Committee Boat for a clean start. (It’s the Duck Dodge! We race for fun!)

Full Moon briefly, if illegally, in the lead!

Crew Michael “Gallery” Medina, Troy “Non-man-splaning” Charlesworth, Kaylee “Snacks” Charlesworth, Daniel “Trainee” Mengedoht, and skipper John “Low Pole” Mengedoht were thus near the front of the fleet initially until slowly being passed by bigger and faster boats before reaching the Freeway buoy. Full Moon played the shifts on the upwind leg to the Aurora buoy, holding our own, while dodging the many paddle boards, kayaks, and drifting power boats.

Something you don't often see, Full Moon (far right) ahead of a J70.

After rounding, the mighty Equalizer was soon hoisted for the long reach south. The Equalizer allowed Full Moon to take back a few places. Then, as often happens, the wind began to fade and shift approaching the AGC buoy. Full Moon dropped the Equalizer in favor of flexibility with the jib, switching from upwind one moment to directly downwind the next.

Troy still can't believe she married him...

After rounding the AGC buoy, it was on to the final upwind leg. Full Moon had to tack a few times but managed to hold off any boats from behind (including rival Necessary Evil) and even got past the speedy Moore 24 Amorillo. In the end, though it didn’t count, Full Moon finished about 10^th, all of us thoroughly enjoying the warm sunny evening.