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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">RE: Luders Nationals 2007</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Larry Weeks writes:</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">I believe that we decided that as Maine hadn't sent any representation to Chicago, and given it's near 60 year hiatus in competing in the International Championship from 1947 - 2004, we would like to see Maine participate in at least one more International Championship hosted elsewhere before returning the regatta to Maine waters.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Sturgis Haskins comments:</FONT>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">This is curious reasoning. For a national class that is - rather frankly - doing all it can to hold on to its remaining fleets - which until the surprise revival of Maine - seemed to have dwindled to but two (Chicago and New Orleans) this is an odd mindset. The nationals (which you insist on called the Internationals) are annually propped up with entries from places that no longer actively race Luders. (Bermuda and the West Coast come to mind). </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">It seems the reasoning of Luders officialdom that Maine, probably the largest and most active of the surviving Luders fleets, must jump through a few hoops before hosting the national championships. I rather suspect some are simply miffed that Maine did not attend the recent nationals in Chicago. We had hoped to, but as we repeatedly pointed out, August was far and away our busiest month and not a good choice for us. We asked for a reconsideration of the date, but the hosts were adamant. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Speaking with candor, Mount Desert Island offers both the best scenery and likely far and away the best maintained fleet. There are, in all, 28 Luders in the area though all do not race. It is probably an understatement to say that the national class desperately needs some kind of boost - some whiff of fresh air and some new renewed enthusiasm over and above the annual Chicago-New Orleans match races. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">I am not certain who "administers" the "national" class, but this Luders racer might suggest they try to be a little more conspicuous to the class as a whole. For starters, someone should have sent these pages the results of national races pronto. Someone in authority should ask the remaining fleets to send their series race results here on a regular basis. Surely, the class president and the class secretary could send periodic reports including an annual one. Indeed, this newsgroup should be expanded to include contributor's photos. Several times I have forwarded pictures, but they were not printed. I no longer bother to try and I think the List is less interesting as a result. Is anyone at the helm?</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Courier New">Dears, you need all the new blood you can muster. Your class is dying. </FONT>
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