[L16-usa] Maine Luders, July Race 2

[Sturgis Haskins]

LUDERS IN PARADISE
A Report from the Eastern Provinces

THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND LUDERS FLEET
The Southwest Harbor Fleet (yacht club), Maine, Sponsor

The somewhat fickle light airs which characterized today y  's racing no
doubt brought considerable frustration to numbers of racers. Diminishing
winds - and a looming Club tea at 4 - prompted a shortening of the twice-
around race course. Altogether, ten Luders participated today. There were
also three O'Day Tempests (their demise prematurely speculated last week by
this writer) and eight Bulleyes in the senior division. Junior Bullseyes had
apparently competed in other venues. This is the 60th summer on Mount Desert
for Luders. On the mainland, the Winter Harbor Knockabouts (Burgess &
Packard design) have begun their 100th season. 

Perhaps the most exciting event in this  otherwise  balmy day were the
debuts of two Luders new to the SWH Fleet. Number 6, Romp, owned by Greg
Bracken , and restored under the masterly auspices of Jim Elks, of Bar
Harbor, made her first racing appearance since the passing of the Northeast
Harbor Luders fleet in the 1970s. Romp, and  it's  sister, Frolic, had long
been owned by the prominent Milliken family. Frolic is reported as still in
the hands of descendants, but kept on neighboring Penobscot Bay. Romp is
gorgeous.

The other gleaming addition, North, is similarly an Elk's restoration
project. No details were neglected in the extensive restoration of this boat
- an import several years ago from Ohio. North is owned by David Schroeder
who is also the owner of an equally handsome International One-Design. At
sea, Captain Schroeder turns heads! Likely there are other Luders to debut
and, indeed, there are recent rumors of a fresh acquisition from a distant
State.

Today's course sent Luders first to a marker near the southern entrance of
the Western Way (& open ocean), thence down to another   off Bear Island
light. Twice around. An unresolved dilemma   for most skippers was which
side of Western Way to favor. Some crept along the western shore of Great
Cranberry Isle, others along the Manset, Southwest Harbor side. A few, such
the the two winning boats, favored the middle - though this was hazarded by
a strong flood tide.  Arbitrary winds addled.

This correspondent was crew on the winning Ondine - which he had skippered
in previous seasons. Such accounts are, expectedly, centric to the writer's
boat. Today's helmsman was Nate McMullen, nephew of the new owner who was
absent. (Lawrence DeMilner was third crew.) Newly graduated from the Mount
Desert  High School, this was his first  appearance in the class. He did
very well and needed no advice from his seasoned crew - which they purposely
tried to restrain. Nate knew what he was doing and did so with finesse and
confidence. Adding to today's drama, school classmate Wells Bacon, Jr., was
at the helm of Mary Jane and led for much of the race. A third high school
classmate, Cody Spruce, crewed aboard Voodoo. thus, a new generation eases
into this growing fleet.

As the two rivals drifted silently toward the final marker, now the finish
line, an unexpected small puff was enough to gently glide Ondine across in
first place.This must have been very disheartening to Mary Jane which had
otherwise dominated the race. Skipper McMullen, nevertheless, deserved
considerable accolade for his able performance.

Today's post-race tea was held at the home of Luders Vice-Fleet Captain, Tom
(& Ginny) Rolfes. This large, handsome house, "Some View," sits at the very
head of Somes Sound and is often used for Luders meetings. The weekly teas
are hosted by rotating members - each with very different sea and mountain
views. The Race Committee chair reads the day's race results, the Commodore
makes announcements and members and guests mingle and chat amiably - the
afternoon's rivalry lost to the genteel tinkle of tea things. Though long
races are impossible due to time restrains, still this weekly ritual serves
good purpose. Most are sated.


* - A large, newly published coffee-table book on photorealist artist
Richard Estes features a stunning centerfold painting of Bear Island in
close background. Author John Wilmerding, noted art historian and collector,
believes this painting is one of Estes' masterpieces. Both artist and writer
summer on Mount Desert.
 
** - This is likely the last of this contributor's accounts. It is hoped
that someone else in the local fleet will come forth. Similar weekly reports
are encouraged from other active fleets.




  _____  

					
	
Results of July Series Race #2	 	
Friday, 7, 2006	 	
	
1)	 Ondine	 #32	 Nate McMullan	
2)	 Mary Jane	 #38	 Wells Bacon, Jr.	
3)	 Triad	 #24	 Alec Goriansky	
4)	 Voodoo	 #30	 David Folger	
5)	 Romp	 #6	 Greg Bracken	
6)	 Red Hot	 #31	 Arthur Davis	
7)	 Weetamoe	 #21	 Rowan Fraley	
8)	 Paladin	 #35	 Tom Rolfes	
9)	 Ange	 #36	 McCreary/Mays	
10)	 North	 #33	 David Schoeder	
					
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://www.l16.org/pipermail/l16-usa/attachments/20060711/b298e579/attachment.htm