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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Revival of FB Luders
Racing</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> According to local historians,
L-16 class racing on Frenchman Bay (FB), which had been inaugurated just after
WWII, was discontinued in 1972, although individual Luders including BAT and
ANDANTE subsequently competed in mixed fleet races on the bay. We believe the
2005 season was the first attempt to revive Luders single class racing on FB.
The Sorrento Yacht Club agreed to arrange a separate start for L-16s in their
weekly mixed fleet races, provided that we would have at least three boats on
the line. Alas, this was to prove elusive. PANACEA and SWEET SIXTEEN which we
had counted on for the season did not go in the water owing to their owners'
preemptive work schedules. Tris Colket's TRIESS no longer races, and the newly
arrived (for sale) Luders from Sodus Bay, NY, did not find a timely buyer.
Finally, ANDANTE's launch was delayed for mast repairs and when finally
launched suffered a rigging failure which sidelined her for the rest of the
racing season. That left only BAT and ADAGIO to compete in the SYC mixed fleet
races. The competition between the two boats during the eight race regular
season was close, with BAT and ADAGIO finishing the season in a tie-- in points
as well as head to head wins. Both boats finished fairly high in the
overall mixed fleet (20 to 30 boats usually) Portsmouth-adjusted standings,
although ADAGIO took a small edge here.. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG></STRONG></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Other
Developments</STRONG> </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> In other developments, the hopes
of the FB Luders fleet for speedy recognition by the L-16 International
Association were dashed when no action was taken on our application at this
summer's meeting in Chicago. The question has been tabled until 2007 for reasons
not explained.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> A further set-back was
experienced in the denial by the International Association of the request by the
MDI Fleet to host the 2007 L-16 Internationals, again for reasons not
explained.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><STRONG>Our Future
</STRONG></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> Obviously, the FB Luders
ambitions for 2005 were substantially under-realized. In particular, the loss of
the 2007 Internationals for here in Maine removes what we thought would be
an occasion for a tremendous boost in public attention and enthusiasm for
the Luders revival, since this would have marked the 60th anniversary of the
inaugural L-16 Internationals held in Bar Harbor in 1947. However, we believe
that the present momentum will be enough to carry us forward. We have
every hope that there will be at least four L-16s on the line for the 2006
season on Frenchman Bay and we will run as a single class. In addition, we
have a newly arrived water ready L-16 for sale on the bay and we have our eyes
peeled for further acquisitions, albeit in competition with the rapidly growing
MDI fleet.</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2> As newcomers to Luders racing,
we of course would be greatly interested in hearing similar accounts from other
active Luders fleets via this e mail exchange. We also hope very much that there
will soon be occasions for other Luders sailors to visit us here in the
sailing paradise of Downeast Maine. </FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
Lawrence DeMilner</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
Frenchman Bay</FONT></DIV>
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