[L16-usa] Mainely Luders

[Sturgis Haskins]

THE SOUTHWEST HARBOR LUDERS FLEET
An Report of the First Race

30 June 2006

60th  Island Season Begins on Solid Start

Morning showers and the rumble of noon thunder did not seem to portend
agreeable conditions for this season's Luders debut. However, the sea gods
took note and the billows of fog rolling in the WesternWaynever
quitepermeatuated the more sheltered waters between Greenings Island and
Southwest Harbor. The watchful Homer brothers, who tend the committee boat,
made early rounds announcing an alternative starting area - this immediately
south of the narrow, scenic entrance of Somes Sound. With a conspicuous
backdrop of Charles Butt's  gleaming dark blue ketch, Rebecca - some
145-feet overall - all seemed proper and in order  for the beginning of
this, the Luders 60th season on Mount Desert Island. 

Seven Luders came out this day. All were from Southwest Harbor anchorages
except Fleet Captain Alec Goriansky's immaculate Triad - now 53 seasons
under his appreciative stewardship (a birthday gift at 13). As the five
minute horn sounded, Triad emerged from the fog bank to a well-timed
entrance. Other Northeast Harbor Luders will doubtless soon race, ditto some
of the five at the Seal Harbor Yacht Club. No Tempest class boats appeared
today - doomed by the revived popularity of their Luders brethren. Five
Bullseyes raced less than half their usual numbers. 

As expected the Homer brothers set an inside course, a government marker off
the SWH tip of Greenings Island and another, a can, at the swiftly tidal
entrance of Somes Sound - twice around. A good course, prudently short in
the moderate airs, to allow timely appearances at the 4 o'clock Commodore's
tea. This was also the appearance of the Commodore's new Hinckley Picnic
motorboat and he followed the race closely.  As the Hinckley firm is clearly
visible from nearly every SWH watery vantage point, these handsome boats
have a particular resonance here. (And, indeed, The Commodore's wife is a
Hinckley.) It did not pass unnoticed that the Commodore's other motorboat,
an even more beautiful Bunker and Ellis, remains on station off his dock.
(This writer is partial to wooden boats, but both please the eye.)  I
digress, except to say that the wooden Bunker and Ellis motorboats are the
local equilivant of vintage aquatic Rolls Royes). Most were built in the
1950s and sport much varnish and all are professionally maintained.

And in the wood department, David Folger's Voodoo took an early led and,
from the vantage point of midfleet (I crewed on Ondine) rarely seemed to be
threatened by competitors, except, perhaps, for the Red Hot. This was
clearly their day as they romped afar.  Still, in the lesser ranks there was
much competition and positions interchanged with some frequency. Ondine,
under the skippership of her new owner, Diana Paine, did well though on the
last leg, Weetamoe - advantaged by a new shift - zoomed from 6th to 3rd
place. 

The results are as follows:

1st, Voodoo, Folger, wood
2nd, Red Hot, Davis, glass
3rd, Weetamoe, Squires, wood
4th, Ondine, Paine, glass
5th, Paladin, Rolfes, glass
6th, Ange, May, wood
7th, Triad, Goriansky, wood

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.l16.org/pipermail/l16-usa/attachments/20060701/cdd6ee85/attachment.htm