[L16-usa] Press Release: MDI Luders Invitational Meet Results

[Lawrence DeMilner]

Debutante skipper wins first MDI Luders Invitational

    Julie Bracken in her first turn at the tiller of the beautifully restored SPIRIT won the three day meet by one point over MDI fleet secretary Dave Folger and his teenage daughter in the vintage VOODOO, who in turn beat fleet newcomer and big boat veteran Thomas Chase in his recently imported GRACE by one point,

    Visiting teams from San Diego (Janet Callow and Brad Smith), from Chicago (Harold Hering), and from Frenchman Bay (Lawrence DeMilner and Kevin Snyder) had to settle for good lessons in boatsmanship in the exciting regatta, which was filled with plenty of moments of rail-down, close quarters, white-knuckle sailing. Although the protest room remained vacant during the regatta, the winner was observed putting in some time doing 360s and over-early restarts during the regatta, none of which kept her from finishing at the head of the pack. 

    A considerable group of others were not so fortunate (or skilled) and had to suffer last place penalty points for not observing the red gong off Cranberry Island in race number 2. Perhaps the drollest moment came on the last downwind leg of the last race. While pre-rigging for the spinnaker run, TRIAD's crew did not notice their spin sheets trailing in the water. Murphy's Law forced the lines to hook on a lobster pot and Alec Goriansky, the fleet captain, who had been first at the windward mark was brought to a dead stop while the rest of the fleet whizzed by in puzzled amazement. 

    Usual strong contenders -- RED HOT and MARY JANE -- could not make it to the line for all 5 races and the extra points awarded took them out of contention. 

    While the organizers are doubtless still catching their collective breaths, the visitors were unanimous in their praise and their encouragement to make this a regular event. A number of other Luders owners and former owners had hoped to participate (New Orleans, Annapolis, Pass Christian) but because of conflicts could not. So, interest in this kind of event is definitely there. 

     Congratulations to fleet vice captain Tom Rolfes and the two Daves (Folger and Schoeder) for organizing and hosting this successful meet. Thanks also for valuable help from Nanette Schoeder and Liana Folger in the crafting of the clever and attractive trophies. The social schedule and hospitality was warmly appreciated by both guests and fleet members and their crew and families. 

    Last and most -- enormous appreciation was expressed by participants to the RC's Homer brothers and their helpers for many, many hours bouncing around on the water waiting for the crazier than usual wind patterns to settle (or not) into something that would allow them to line up a course.

    A footnote on MDI's Luders revival: a total of 18 L16s were on the course over this summer, up from 12 in 2006. Another 4 are currently racing around the island on Frenchman Bay.

    
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