From rugosa at acadia.net  Sat Jul  1 06:55:29 2006
From: rugosa at acadia.net (Sturgis Haskins)
Date: Mon Jul  3 19:49:49 2006
Subject: [L16-usa] Mainely Luders
Message-ID: <000001c69d05$407737b0$030a6341@Rugosa>


THE SOUTHWEST HARBOR LUDERS FLEET
An Report of the First Race

30 June 2006

60th  Island Season Begins on Solid Start

Morning showers and the rumble of noon thunder did not seem to portend
agreeable conditions for this season's Luders debut. However, the sea gods
took note and the billows of fog rolling in the WesternWaynever
quitepermeatuated the more sheltered waters between Greenings Island and
Southwest Harbor. The watchful Homer brothers, who tend the committee boat,
made early rounds announcing an alternative starting area - this immediately
south of the narrow, scenic entrance of Somes Sound. With a conspicuous
backdrop of Charles Butt's  gleaming dark blue ketch, Rebecca - some
145-feet overall - all seemed proper and in order  for the beginning of
this, the Luders 60th season on Mount Desert Island. 

Seven Luders came out this day. All were from Southwest Harbor anchorages
except Fleet Captain Alec Goriansky's immaculate Triad - now 53 seasons
under his appreciative stewardship (a birthday gift at 13). As the five
minute horn sounded, Triad emerged from the fog bank to a well-timed
entrance. Other Northeast Harbor Luders will doubtless soon race, ditto some
of the five at the Seal Harbor Yacht Club. No Tempest class boats appeared
today - doomed by the revived popularity of their Luders brethren. Five
Bullseyes raced less than half their usual numbers. 

As expected the Homer brothers set an inside course, a government marker off
the SWH tip of Greenings Island and another, a can, at the swiftly tidal
entrance of Somes Sound - twice around. A good course, prudently short in
the moderate airs, to allow timely appearances at the 4 o'clock Commodore's
tea. This was also the appearance of the Commodore's new Hinckley Picnic
motorboat and he followed the race closely.  As the Hinckley firm is clearly
visible from nearly every SWH watery vantage point, these handsome boats
have a particular resonance here. (And, indeed, The Commodore's wife is a
Hinckley.) It did not pass unnoticed that the Commodore's other motorboat,
an even more beautiful Bunker and Ellis, remains on station off his dock.
(This writer is partial to wooden boats, but both please the eye.)  I
digress, except to say that the wooden Bunker and Ellis motorboats are the
local equilivant of vintage aquatic Rolls Royes). Most were built in the
1950s and sport much varnish and all are professionally maintained.

And in the wood department, David Folger's Voodoo took an early led and,
from the vantage point of midfleet (I crewed on Ondine) rarely seemed to be
threatened by competitors, except, perhaps, for the Red Hot. This was
clearly their day as they romped afar.  Still, in the lesser ranks there was
much competition and positions interchanged with some frequency. Ondine,
under the skippership of her new owner, Diana Paine, did well though on the
last leg, Weetamoe - advantaged by a new shift - zoomed from 6th to 3rd
place. 

The results are as follows:

1st, Voodoo, Folger, wood
2nd, Red Hot, Davis, glass
3rd, Weetamoe, Squires, wood
4th, Ondine, Paine, glass
5th, Paladin, Rolfes, glass
6th, Ange, May, wood
7th, Triad, Goriansky, wood

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From rugosa at acadia.net  Tue Jul 11 06:47:33 2006
From: rugosa at acadia.net (Sturgis Haskins)
Date: Tue Jul 11 23:23:46 2006
Subject: [L16-usa] Maine Luders,  July Race 2
Message-ID: <000201c6a4df$cea83430$0b0a6341@Rugosa>



LUDERS IN PARADISE
A Report from the Eastern Provinces

THE MOUNT DESERT ISLAND LUDERS FLEET
The Southwest Harbor Fleet (yacht club), Maine, Sponsor

The somewhat fickle light airs which characterized today y  's racing no
doubt brought considerable frustration to numbers of racers. Diminishing
winds - and a looming Club tea at 4 - prompted a shortening of the twice-
around race course. Altogether, ten Luders participated today. There were
also three O'Day Tempests (their demise prematurely speculated last week by
this writer) and eight Bulleyes in the senior division. Junior Bullseyes had
apparently competed in other venues. This is the 60th summer on Mount Desert
for Luders. On the mainland, the Winter Harbor Knockabouts (Burgess &
Packard design) have begun their 100th season. 

Perhaps the most exciting event in this  otherwise  balmy day were the
debuts of two Luders new to the SWH Fleet. Number 6, Romp, owned by Greg
Bracken , and restored under the masterly auspices of Jim Elks, of Bar
Harbor, made her first racing appearance since the passing of the Northeast
Harbor Luders fleet in the 1970s. Romp, and  it's  sister, Frolic, had long
been owned by the prominent Milliken family. Frolic is reported as still in
the hands of descendants, but kept on neighboring Penobscot Bay. Romp is
gorgeous.

The other gleaming addition, North, is similarly an Elk's restoration
project. No details were neglected in the extensive restoration of this boat
- an import several years ago from Ohio. North is owned by David Schroeder
who is also the owner of an equally handsome International One-Design. At
sea, Captain Schroeder turns heads! Likely there are other Luders to debut
and, indeed, there are recent rumors of a fresh acquisition from a distant
State.

Today's course sent Luders first to a marker near the southern entrance of
the Western Way (& open ocean), thence down to another   off Bear Island
light. Twice around. An unresolved dilemma   for most skippers was which
side of Western Way to favor. Some crept along the western shore of Great
Cranberry Isle, others along the Manset, Southwest Harbor side. A few, such
the the two winning boats, favored the middle - though this was hazarded by
a strong flood tide.  Arbitrary winds addled.

This correspondent was crew on the winning Ondine - which he had skippered
in previous seasons. Such accounts are, expectedly, centric to the writer's
boat. Today's helmsman was Nate McMullen, nephew of the new owner who was
absent. (Lawrence DeMilner was third crew.) Newly graduated from the Mount
Desert  High School, this was his first  appearance in the class. He did
very well and needed no advice from his seasoned crew - which they purposely
tried to restrain. Nate knew what he was doing and did so with finesse and
confidence. Adding to today's drama, school classmate Wells Bacon, Jr., was
at the helm of Mary Jane and led for much of the race. A third high school
classmate, Cody Spruce, crewed aboard Voodoo. thus, a new generation eases
into this growing fleet.

As the two rivals drifted silently toward the final marker, now the finish
line, an unexpected small puff was enough to gently glide Ondine across in
first place.This must have been very disheartening to Mary Jane which had
otherwise dominated the race. Skipper McMullen, nevertheless, deserved
considerable accolade for his able performance.

Today's post-race tea was held at the home of Luders Vice-Fleet Captain, Tom
(& Ginny) Rolfes. This large, handsome house, "Some View," sits at the very
head of Somes Sound and is often used for Luders meetings. The weekly teas
are hosted by rotating members - each with very different sea and mountain
views. The Race Committee chair reads the day's race results, the Commodore
makes announcements and members and guests mingle and chat amiably - the
afternoon's rivalry lost to the genteel tinkle of tea things. Though long
races are impossible due to time restrains, still this weekly ritual serves
good purpose. Most are sated.


* - A large, newly published coffee-table book on photorealist artist
Richard Estes features a stunning centerfold painting of Bear Island in
close background. Author John Wilmerding, noted art historian and collector,
believes this painting is one of Estes' masterpieces. Both artist and writer
summer on Mount Desert.
 
** - This is likely the last of this contributor's accounts. It is hoped
that someone else in the local fleet will come forth. Similar weekly reports
are encouraged from other active fleets.




  _____  

					
	
Results of July Series Race #2	 	
Friday, 7, 2006	 	
	
1)	 Ondine	 #32	 Nate McMullan	
2)	 Mary Jane	 #38	 Wells Bacon, Jr.	
3)	 Triad	 #24	 Alec Goriansky	
4)	 Voodoo	 #30	 David Folger	
5)	 Romp	 #6	 Greg Bracken	
6)	 Red Hot	 #31	 Arthur Davis	
7)	 Weetamoe	 #21	 Rowan Fraley	
8)	 Paladin	 #35	 Tom Rolfes	
9)	 Ange	 #36	 McCreary/Mays	
10)	 North	 #33	 David Schoeder	
					
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