<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 3.2//EN">
<HTML>
<HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<META NAME="Generator" CONTENT="MS Exchange Server version 6.0.4630.0">
<TITLE>Maine Luders - Seal Harbor Regatta Results</TITLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY>
<!-- Converted from text/rtf format -->
<BR>
<P><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">SEAL HARBOR REGATTA</FONT></B>
<BR><B><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Mount Desert Island, Maine</FONT></B>
</P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">One of the highlights of Mount Desert Luders racing is the annual Seal Harbor Regatta. This year's race was held on Wednesday, August 3rd. The smaller classes, that is to say, Bullseyes, Mercuries and 420's, compete in both morning and afternoon races. The larger boats, mostly Luders,, but including several International One-Designs and a lone Northeast Harbor A-class boat, race in the afternoon for the O'Brien Cup. This handsome, gold two-handled trophy was first won in 1949 by Nelson Rockefeller sailing his International One-Design, Queen Mary. Subsequent winners include his brother, David, and a host of well-known local skippers. This writer has won it for the past three years in the Luders Ondine.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Regatta day dawned bright and cool with gentle northerly breezes wafting in. Predictably, by noon the northern front had brought with it stiff winds and some very lively sailing. While the Luders normally compete in working jibs, the local rule is bent for regattas where the class is in competition with other one-designs for an overall cup. In deference to the strong winds, only one Luders owner was thought to use his genoa. Under normal circumstances, the Seal Harbor club sets the same course for the O'Brien Cup racers - that is to say, out to open sea via Western Way and around the two Cranberry Isles and the more distant Baker's Island, returning to the finish off Seal Harbor. Sutton's Island, sort of in the way, may be rounded or not, depending on the whim of the skipper. With a spectacular backdrop of Mount Desert's mountains, contrasted with the bold, fir-bound off-shore islands, this is a race to savor. One might throw in, too, the three lighthouses dotting this scenic circumnavigation. Likely, however, racers are riveted on the transoms ahead of them, less mindful of passing vistas.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Such were the gusts blowing down Western Way (between the Manset shore, Southwest Harbor, and Great Cranberry Isle) that only three Luders seemed to attempt spinnakers. Weetamoe's went up, filled and was soon down. Ditto, Bill Eacho's Sea Biscuit - which lasted longer. This skipper, at the helm of Ondine, held the longest until a fierce blast approaching Baker's Island broke the pole in half. As an economy measure, the Coast Guard has recently removed the gong off the southern tip of distant Baker's. As there are several precipitous ledges here, doubtless all skippers proceeded with some prudence, standing a comfortable distance off-shore. The sound of crashing surf served as a cautious reminder. Unlike most lighthouses, the Baker's Island light stands in the middle of the thickly wooded island - barely visible above dark tree tops.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The return to Seal Harbor was a rail-down beat to windward. Here, we gave thanks for the smaller working jib. Like last year, we made an effort to stay in the lee of Baker's and Little Cranberry as much as we could. The ebbing tide rips strongly out of both Somes Sound and Frenchman's Bay and is noticeably diminished in closer to shore. Andy Pew, single-handing aboard his 28-foot gaff-rigged A-boat gave a stellar performce, riding much closer to the rocky shore than we dared - all the while rail down. A glorious sight it was to see his 1936 sloop healed over so far. His Gull, carrying sail #50, was the last built in the class in 1936 (the originals debuted in 1912). Only two remain afloat on Mount Desert now. (Though one of my crew owns #44, it is has not been launched for a decade.)</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">My crew consisted of Sherdy Carr, a local welder and descendant of the Island's oldest settlers, and Diana Gazis, newly retired as Dean of a Caribbean Medical College. No spring chickens we, but with brave effort managed to haul ourselves up to high rail after each tack - looking much like beached, wet seals. At one point our traveler shot off the track, but was quickly reattached. Gull and Bill Eacho's Sea Biscuit seemed to gain with each new tack and soon we were aware that the International One-Designs were fast creeping upon us. (A pursuit handicap race, faster craft start later). However, we managed to stay ahead with the following final results:</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">1st Ondine, Luders, Sturgis Haskins</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">2nd, Eagle, IOD, Courtenay Jenkins</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">3rd, Sea Biscuit, Luders, Bill Eacho</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">4th, Gull, A-Boat, Andy Pew</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Etc.</FONT>
</P>
<BR>
</BODY>
</HTML>