Alfred Edward "Bill" Luders, Jr. (December 31, 1909 – January 31, 1999) was an American naval architect, who designed all but one of the Sea Sprite Sailing Yachts

Sea Sprite Sailing Yachts

Sea Sprite sailing yachts is a family of US built sailing vessels. The series includes the following yachts, a 23', 28', 30', and a 34'. They were all simply designated Sea Sprites. The twin sails in a following seas emblem is well known in the yachting world.Sea Sprites are being sailed...

.

Born in Stamford, Connecticut

Stamford, Connecticut

Stamford is a city in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population of the city is 122,643, making it the fourth largest city in the state and the eighth largest city in New England...

, Luders attended The Hill School

The Hill School

The Hill School is a preparatory boarding school for boys and girls located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, about 35 miles northwest of Philadelphia....

 in Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States northwest of Philadelphia and southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the...

, then forewent further education to undertake an apprenticeship in naval architecture. Luders later became the director of the family business, Luders Marine Construction Company in Stamford, which was founded by his father, A.E. Luders, Sr., in 1908.

In 1946, Luders was one of a committee of five boat designers (including George Hinman, Arthur Knapp, Emil "Bus" Mosbacher and Cornelius Shields) who codified regulated the International One Design

International One Design

The International One Design is a class of sail boat developed for yacht racing. It is a 33-foot open cockpit day sailer used for day racing, rather than for overnight, or ocean races, such as the Newport–Bermuda Yacht Race...

 class of yachts.

With the revival of the America's Cup

America's Cup

The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...

 yacht race with 12-meter yachts in 1958, Luders built the yacht Weatherly to a design by Philip Rhodes

Philip Rhodes

Philip Leonard Rhodes was a prolific naval architect of extraordinary range. He was particularly known for the wholesome good looks and sailing qualities of his yacht designs. He designed vessels from 123' motor-sailors to 7' dinghies, from hydrofoil racers to giant motor yachts. His work also...

. Although the yacht was not selected that year, it successfully defended the Cup at the 1962 America's Cup

1962 America's Cup

The 1962 America's Cup was the second to be sailed in 12-meter yachts, marked the first challenge for the Cup from a country other than Great Britain or Canada, and was the first challenge from a country in the southern hemisphere...

 against the Australian yacht Gretel.