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<P><B><FONT FACE="Arial">RE: Report from the Mount Desert =
Island, Maine, Luders Fleet</FONT></B>
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<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Preface: Having had no Luders =
messages for several months, I confess that is mostly a test to see if I =
am still connected to the national Luders site.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Mount Desert Island fleet races =
under the auspices of the Southwest Harbor Fleet. Races for the =
Luders class are on Fridays in July and August, except in the instance =
of the first race of the season which will be held a day early - on =
Thursday, July 3rd. This is done to accommodate the annual July 4 =
weekend series of the International One-Design class, of the neighboring =
Northeast Harbor Fleet. (Both clubs favor "Fleet" over =
"Yacht Club" for some reason.) A number of Luders =
skippers and crew also race Internationals - which number about 33 and =
will be hosting the World Championship later this year.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Luders fleet will also participate =
in several regattas, including those sponsored by their host club - the =
SWH Fleet - and others under the aegis of the NEH Fleet and the Seal =
Harbor Yacht Club. The latter will also host a team race between =
the Luders class and representatives of the Winter Harbor Yacht Club =
(which races a 31-foot gaff knockabout class designed for their club in =
1907). Dates for all events will be announced later.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Last summer, Mount Desert Luders racing =
was revived after a hiatus of about 30 years. Five of the six =
Luders in the water that summer participated in at least one race. =
Over this past winter, numbers of newly purchased Luders have been added =
to the fleet and other boats, long in storage, are expected to be =
launched. In all, some 17 Luders may be afloat. Two others =
will not be put in this summer. North of Mount Desert Island, on =
Frenchman's Bay, three other Luders are kept and there is a good =
possibility that they may come around the Island to sail in one or two =
races. </FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">The Luders revival has sparked renewed =
interest in this lovely old class and some are still looking for =
additional boats. Area Luders are beautifully maintained and most of the =
1946-1947 boats are in nearly original condition.</FONT></P>
<P><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">Sturgis Haskins</FONT>
<BR><FONT SIZE=2 FACE="Arial">MDI Luders Fleet Secretary</FONT>
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