[L16-usa] Slight News of Maine Luders

[sturgis haskins]

MAINE LUDERSDOM
 
A Faint Report
 
1) An influx of L-16's from local storage sheds and distant places raises
the expectations of summer racing in the Mount Desert Island, Maine region.
It appears that 20-21 Luders may be competing this season under the auspices
of the Southwest Harbor Fleet - principal sponsor of the Island fleet.. This
estimate is substantially more than the 12 which raced last year. The first
of the new boats to appear is #300, entered  Northeast Harbor's July 1st
regatta. It was skippered by the Rev. Ken Brookes with family members as
crew.  (Note: there is also a #300 in the New Orleans fleet.)
 
2) By a narrow majority, the MDI Luders fleet has decided to introduce a
new, low-cut working jib into competition this summer. Eight such jibs
(thanks to a generous gift from the sail's primary advocate) will be in use.
The older working jib will be retained on other Luders. At the end of the
season, the results will be compared. In the recent regatta five boats
carried three different jibs, including genoa. Under local rules, Luders may
race with genoas in regattas.
 
3) On Frenchman's Bay, north of Mount Desert Island, the revived Luders
fleet will have its first race on July 4. It is expected  that four Luders
will compete. Two are wood, two glass. This race is under the direction of
the Sorrento Yacht Club.
 
4) Luders were invited to participate in the Northeast Harbor Fleet's first
annual "Henry Reath Trophy Pursuit Race" on Sunday, July 1st. (This writer
photographed from the committee boat.)  The race was open to boats 20 feet
and over. Entries had the choice of competing in spinnaker or non-spinnaker
divisions.
 
Luders, with 5 boats, were the largest one-design class. Only two of the
locally popular International One-Designs entered.The course began  with a
down-wind start off the host club's anchorage, continuing to open sea and
around Baker's Island and the  two Cranberry Isles - no small distance.
Except for a Sea Sprite, the Luders were the smallest boats entered. The
class managed to hold its lead to Baker's and part way back until a calm
brought the larger, swifter boats to the forefront.
 
The first Luders to finish was David Schoeder's bright red NORTH, a recent
restoration of a Ohio boat. The single Luders in the spinnaker division
finished shortly after. This was the aforementioned #300, still nameless
(formerly The Judge). Remaining Luders, in order of their finish, were
VOODOO (David Folger & daughter), Spirit (Greg Brackett) and TRIAD, raced by
Alec Goriansky, Luders fleet captain.  Curiously, all Luders this day were
wood, except for #300.
 
ONDINE, sailed by her owner, Diana Paine, rushed straight from launching,
but arrived too late for the start. ANGE kept in the vicinity and may not
have intended to race. Lawrence DeMilner's bold yellow LOLLIPOP, a fresh
California import, did not leave her mooring due to a tardy crew member. Tom
Rolfes, nominally a Luders racer, raced in his J-105 with a large crew. 
 
Shortly after the start, the 154-foot gleaming,  locally-owned ketch,
SCHERAZARDE,  gave serious pause when it passed close by the committee boat.
A glorious sight, indeed! 
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