LARC Moonlight Series ("LARC after Dark")
Race #2: Saturday, May 30, 2026
Sunday, May 3, 2026
The Mile-Long Ghost: Why “Safe” is Dangerous in Night Racing
In sailboat racing, a one-mile lead in a 13-mile sprint isn’t just a cushion—it’s a kingdom. But as the sun sets and the lake turns into a mirror of ink and moonlight, that kingdom can vanish in the time it takes to say, "I think the jib is fine." Last night, on a J/80 under a gorgeous full moon, we learned that the most dangerous thing on the water isn’t a storm; it’s a trailing boat with nothing to lose and a leading crew that allows a gear-change gap to open.
The Brilliance: Dominating the Rhumb Line
The race started at 8:20 PM. Conditions were "ripping"—13 to 14 knots of pressure gradient wind, gusting over 20. We were dialed in. Our strategy was surgical, our few maneuvers were crisp, and by the halfway mark, we were easily first. Two miles later, we had opened up a massive lead. But with a mile of breathing room, we fell into a common trap: complacency. We transitioned from "racing the fleet" to simply "sailing the boat." We felt untouchable.
The Science: The Atmospheric "Lid"
As the night wore on, the heat vanished. On a lake, this often causes Atmospheric Decoupling. The warm air that "mixes" high-speed winds down to the surface disappears as the ground cools. A cold layer of air forms at the water's surface, acting like a lid. The 20-knot gusts didn't "stop"—they just lifted above our mastheads. We were left in the "whisper"—a steady 6 knots of friction-slowed air.
The Blunder: The "Comfort" Trap
The apparent wind angle (AWA) sat at 70°–80°, sometimes pushing to 90° and other times as high as 50°. On a J/80 with a class kite, that’s the "grey zone"—right on the edge of a broach if a puff hits. The Team’s Decision: "The lead is huge. Why risk a tangle in the dark? Let's stay under the 135% genoa and keep it simple." The Reality: At night, the air is denser and more stable. The turbulence of the day is gone. That "grey zone" angle is actually safer at night because the wind is consistent. We stayed under the genoa as a group. We chose the safer sail, but we collectively ignored the changing physics of the lake and the tactical necessity of coverage.
The "Black Monolith"
Because it was dark, we didn't see the boat behind us hoist. We simply saw a black monolith—a silhouette that blotted out the stars—charging at us. By committing to the kite, they reached up into the cleaner air and generated their own apparent wind. They weren't just faster; they were in a different league of momentum.
The Panic: Breaking the Rhythm
In a desperate attempt to defend, we prepared to hoist. But our rhythm was gone. We swapped the usual hoist side to starboard—a change in the dark that bypassed our muscle memory. "Seconds" are magnified at night. A fumbled hoist later, the black monolith scooted by. From a mile ahead to losing by a few seconds at the pin.
The Lessons Crystalized
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The Mirror Rule (Tactical Defense)
When playing defense, you must cover with the same sail plan. If the boat behind you takes a risk, they have created "leverage." By matching their sail choice, you neutralize that leverage. You don't need to be faster; you just need to ensure they don't have a gear you aren't using. If they have the kite up, you must have the kite up. -
Assertiveness Over Politeness
In the heat of a race, observations must be translated into Action-Result statements. In our case, we were too hesitant. Some of us felt strongly that the kite needed to come out, but we were mum—unwilling to disrupt the perceived safety of our lead. This silence is where leads go to die. The call needs to be: "The boat behind has the kite up and is gaining; we must hoist now to protect the lead." Clear, assertive communication prevents the "wait and see" mentality that kills leads. -
The "Night Brain" Tax
Everything is harder in the dark. Changing your "system" (like a starboard hoist) under pressure is a recipe for a foul-up. Stick to your established drills, or make the tactical change long before the predator is at your transom.
The Summary
We didn't lose because of bad sailing; we lost because we collectively chose safety over coverage. Inshore or offshore, the lesson is the same: The moment you feel you have the race won is exactly when you are most likely to lose it. Don't sail to the finish line; sail to the boat behind you.
-- Ben Owens, S/V Meraki (J/80)
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Thank you Ben for that very insightful view of the race.
I invite anyone that has something interesting to relate about a race to contact me. It is great to hear the viewpoints and comments from the many different levels of experience of our sailing competitors.
A big thank you to Jeff Elam from Barefoot Sailing Club that set up this very eventful evening race.
The sailors in the Low PHRF fleet wanted a LONG race and Jeff complied by sending them to the dam and back, 13.1 nm. It took the first boat in that fleet 2.5 hrs to complete the course. The High PHRF and non-spinnaker fleet sailed a shorter course to D, H, B and back to the flagpole for a 6.7 nm race. Unfortunately, one of the competitors in this fleet ran afoul of the hazard close to D island, often referred to as “Ken’s landing” but we might need to rename it as “Jim’s landing”, but they made it safely back to the dock after I am sure was a very frustrating experience. A big thank you to Rick Proffitt for lending a hand.
Here are the results by fleets:
Low PHRF
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Freya
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Meraki
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O Sol Mio
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Crush
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Griffin (it was reported that their onboard “line” dancing slowed them down)
High PHRF
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GA Tech, Balance Point
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Talon
Non-Spin
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Maggie Mae
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Starcatcher
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Wind Spinner
The next race will be Sat. May 30.
See on the race course, Dana
Wednesday, April 29, 2026
Summer is approaching rapidly and the Moonlight series will begin this Saturday, May 1. Those of you who want to enjoy the evening breezes and a LONG course in the moonlight should join us on Saturday for the skipper’s meeting which is mandatory at Aqualand X dock at 6pm. At that time, you will get the course that we will be sailing and your individual start time.
Each boat should text me your finish time within 24 hours of your finish. Remember this should be time of day with hours, minutes and seconds. Many people have an APP on their phone which gives you the official US time, I use “Exact Time” app and then take a screenshot of the finish time. But whatever you use, make sure I can read the time and send to me at 404/849-1809.
Put these dates on your calendar for the remaining races of this series, I had to skip June full moon because there is a regatta that weekend
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Moon #2 Sat, May 30
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Moon #3 Sat, July 25
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Moon #4 Sat, Aug 29
See you on the race course, Dana
2025
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Moonlight race series wrap-up
Sat, Aug 2, 2025
Mother Nature did her best to throw us a wrench every race day, but we persevered and even though we had rain and storms at 6pm for most of the skipper’s meeting, those intrepid racers that had faith ended up having a nice race each evening. On this last race day, we didn’t get to see the Moon but we did get to see the fireworks. The rain held off until everyone was finished racing (just what I ordered from the weatherman) and we had wind that ranged form 9-15 knots at the start at we raced to H and back.
Awards will be given to the top boat that participated in at least 2 races in each fleet.
The order of the finishes were:
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Meyhoefer Highlander J-22
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Sawchuck Breakaway C&C 99
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Meraki J-80
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Ryan Jones Peregrine
The Moonlight series awards will be celebrated on Wed. Sept 17 along with the Wed. night series 2 awards.
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Moonlight #4, Sat. August 2
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On Saturday, Aug 2 will be hosting the last Moonlight race for this year. Let’s try the same thing we did last month. If you are interested in sailing in the race, please register with Dana Stewart at 404/849-1809 or stewartdana3363@gmail.com by 4 pm on Saturday, Aug 2. Then at 6pm on Sat, we will make a decision about the course and will text your start time and the course. I will not answer emails or texts after 4pm. Good luck to everybody and pray to the wind and weather gods.
Don’t forget, I need your finish time by Sunday evening. I recommend an app called “Exact Time” which will give you time in hours, minutes and seconds. I usually have a crew member that takes a screen shot as I finish and you can send that to me as your finish time.
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Moonlight #3, Sat. July 5
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Circumstances are very unique for this 3rd race of the Moonlight series; a holiday weekend full of boat traffic and the only Saturday this month with the moon rising during the evening hours with the maximum brightness. But we are still going to have a race but it will be unique because there will be no skipper's meeting.
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The plan is to have everyone that is interested in sailing this Saturday evening should register by email (stewartdana3363@gmail.com) or text me (404-849-1809) you are planning on racing by 6pm on Saturday, July 5. At 6:05 pm on Sat. July 5, I will be texting the start time and the course to all registered boats. This will be the only time I do this, but these circumstances are different and I wanted everyone that wanted to race to be given the opportunity to win the coveted Moonlight trophy.
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The race will start sometime after 8pm (depending on your individual start times) and will have a short finish (SF) and a
motor time (MT) as usual in a Pursuit race.
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When you register by text (preferred) or email, include your name, boat information and your PHRF rating. Please be sure you text me your finish time within 24 hours of the finish of the race.
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Have a great Independence Day holiday, Dana
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Moonlight #1, Sat. May 10
Summer is on the way and the LARC Moonlight race series begins this Saturday, May 10. Come join us for the evening summer breezes and the enjoyment of our gorgeous Moonlit nights.
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There will be a skipper's meeting at Aqualand at X dock at 6pm. At this time, we will announce the individual start times, the course, possible short finish and motor times.
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All LARC races are free to all boats and skippers that are current members of the one of the 3 sailing clubs who are members of LARC; Barefoot Sailing Club, Lake Lanier Sailing Club and University Yacht Club.
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There will be 4 races in this series, one each month through the summer. Trophies for this series will be given out at the Wednesday night series 2 awards banquet on September 17.
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Look forward to seeing everyone.
Dana
{Source: LARC email dated May 6, 2025}
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2024
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Moonlight #3, Sat. July 20
Take advantage of the cooler summer evenings on Sat. July 20 for the third race of the Moonlight series. The Skipper’s meeting will be at Aqualand, X dock at 6pm with the base time for beginning of race is 8pm.
{Source: LARC email dated July 9, 2024}
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Moonlight #2, Sat. June 15
On Saturday June 15, we have the second Moonlight race sponsored by BFSC. The skipper’s meeting will be at 6pm at X dock at Aqualand Marina. At that time, a course will be announced and start times for each boat will be given. The base for the start will be 8pm. Please send an email by Friday to stewartdana3363@gmail.com if you are planning on racing. This race is free to all members of the 3 sail clubs; LLSC, BFSC & UYC.
{Source: LARC email dated June 12, 2024}
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2023
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Moonlight #4, Sat. August 26
After the brutal weather we have been having this week, I can FEEL the cool wind as I contemplate sailing in the last Moonlight race this Saturday, Aug. 26. We will have the skipper’s meeting at 6pm at the coolest spot closest to X dock at Aqualand. At that time, we will announce the course and start times for each boat.
Moonlight Race #3
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, then this picture shows all the fun you are missing by not sailing in the Moonlight races. This avid sailor says “I love Moonlight races”.
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Moon #3 was a great Saturday night for a race. The weatherman predicted 3-4 mph on this evening, but we ended with a gorgeous 5-8 mph as the evening progressed and had a great time. As seen in the picture, there was sporadic cloud cover, but the moon rose before the start of the race to shine until the early morning.
Looking forward to doing some night racing, see you under the moonlight. Dana
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{Source: LARC email dated August 23, 2023}
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Moonlight #3, Sat. July 29
The first 2 Moonlight races did not go as planned, Mother Nature kept YANKING our chain, as the expression goes. The first race had great wind at Skipper’s meeting but blew itself out by race time, making it impossible for the fastest boat to finish before motor time. The second Moonlight race was the complete reverse. We had no wind at the skipper’s meeting at 6pm, we set a short course and very few people believed we would have enough wind for a race. This second race had great wind, mild temperatures and though it was cloudy and the moon popped out every once in a while, the wind was so nice that most people finished before it got dark.
So what do you think the odds are for nice wind this third Moonlight race on Saturday July 29? Please send an email to stewartdanam@gmail.com with your intention to sail by Friday night. If you have not raced in a LARC race this year, please include boat type/name, PHRF rating and the club in which you are a member. We will have the skipper’s meeting at 6pm at Aqualand “X” dock. At that time you will be given the course and your start time. Again, please contact me by Friday night if you plan on sailing.
See you at Aqualand, Saturday at “X” dock.
See you on the race course,
Dana
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{Source: LARC email dated July 25, 2023}
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Moonlight #2, Sat. July 1
The great thing about Moonlight races is no matter what we have a GREAT time. The first race started with moderate wind and great weather but as we sailed to the second mark, the wind died. But that didn’t stop the PAR-TY. Most of us continued to drift toward A and enjoyed the gorgeous moon that was ordered for this evening which also included a great fireworks display. Unfortunately, nobody completed the course in time.
But we have a second chance this Saturday. Moonlight race #2 will be Saturday, July 1 with the skipper’s meeting at 6pm at Aqualand “X” dock. At that time, we will announce the course and staggered start times. Please send me an email by Friday, if you are thinking about joining us for this evening of moonlight and fireworks. This is turning out to be a week of warm weather and what a pleasure it will be to enjoy the cool evening breezes on this night of sailing.
See you on the race course, Dana
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{Source: LARC email dated June 29, 2023}​
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What is better than a full Moon, a LARC night race and Fireworks? Nothing, but if you sail in the LARC after Dark, Moonlight series on Sat. June the 3rd, you will get to experience all three!!!
The LARC Moonlight series, hosted by BFSC will have its first race of this series on Saturday with the skipper’s meeting at Aqualand “X” dock at 6pm. At that time, you will be given the course and your staggered start time.
This race is free to all members of one of the three sailing clubs; LLSC, BFSC or UYC. Please send me (stewartdanam@gmail.com) an email Friday with your name, sail #, boat type and PHRF rating if you are interested in participating in this race. If you cannot make the skipper’s meeting, please send a representative for your boat.
Here is the schedule for the next 3 races in the series:
Race #2, Sat July 1
Race #3, Sat July 29
Race #4, Sat Aug 26
Attached is the NOR/SI for the 2023 LARC series. <snip>
I look forward to seeing everyone Sat night,
Dana
{Source: Email excerpt from LARC email dated June 2, 2022}​
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What is better than a full Moon, a LARC night race and Fireworks? Nothing, but if you sail in the LARC after Dark, Moonlight series on Sat. June the 3rd, you will get to experience all three!!!
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The LARC Moonlight series, hosted by BFSC will have its first race of this series on Saturday with the skipper’s meeting at Aqualand “X” dock at 6pm. At that time, you will be given the course and your staggered start time.
This race is free to all members of one of the three sailing clubs; LLSC, BFSC or UYC. Please send me (stewartdanam@gmail.com) an email Friday with your name, sail #, boat type and PHRF rating if you are interested in participating in this race. If you cannot make the skipper’s meeting, please send a representative for your boat.
Here is the schedule for the next 3 races in the series:
Race #2, Sat July 1
Race #3, Sat July 29
Race #4, Sat Aug 26
Attached is the NOR/SI for the 2023 LARC series.
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Email excerpts from last summer's 2022 series:
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Did you see that gorgeous moon last night?
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It reminded me that the last Moonlight race of the year will be this Saturday. We will have a skipper’s meeting on Sat, Aug 13 at 6pm at Aqualand, “X” dock area. At that time, we will announce the course and starting times for all those pre-registered and competitors at the skipper’s meeting.
Just a reminder that I will send a text message with course and start time between 6:30-6:50 to anyone that requests this by Friday midnight.
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See you in the moonlight!
Dana
{Source: LARC email dated August 9, 2022}
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The second of the three Moonlight races will be Saturday, July 9.
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I have one addition to the sailing instructions, there will be a skipper’s meeting for individuals interested.
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This skipper’s meeting will be held at 6pm at the grassy area in front of “X” dock at Aqualand, at that time the course will be announced.
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I will send a text message with start time and course on Saturday night if you notify me by FRIDAY NIGHT 1) PHRF rating, 2) skipper’s name, 3) sail #, 4) type of boat/name of boat, and 5) club affliation 6) phone number
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See you on the race course,
Dana
{Source: LARC email dated July 6, 2022}