Luders 16: Surviving storms for 90 years

The Luders 16 Class has trouble with hurricanes.

Originated as a junior keelboat, about fifteen were built in 1934, and they were raced at Fishers Island (New York) until a hurricane decimated the fleet later in the decade. While the surviving boats scattered, interest in the class grew for the sleek boats at 26-feet long with a 16-foot waterline.

Fast forward to 2004 when Hurricane Katrina decimated the fleet in New Orleans, which was one of the largest, if not the largest, in the USA at the time. This was a momentum killer, and while the Class Championship was held a year later in Chicago, the trophy has been getting dusty ever since.

But the boat, which was originally designed to be a miniature version of the then modern International Rule Sloop of the time, similar to the Six Meter, refuses to go away, particularly in Northeast Harbor, ME. With over 30+ boats based locally, and 10-15 consistently raced on the waters surrounding Mount Desert Island, class advocates decided it was time to dust off the trophy.

Nineteen years after the last Luders 16 International Championship was held in Chicago, the Northeast Harbor Fleet is hosting the 46th edition on July 25-26 in Northeast Harbor, ME. With hopes of returning the Class to its former glory, the 2024 Championship seeks to continue the legacy of its designer Alfred Edward (Bill) Luders. Just need to avoid hurricanes.

Event details: https://nehfleet.org/regatta/Q73GWG7Bjk
Class history: https://www.l16.org/