Buddy Melges
 Melges in 1992 | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 26, 1930 Elkhorn, Wisconsin, U.S. |
| Died | May 18, 2023 (aged 93) Fontana, Wisconsin, U.S. |
Medal record | |
Harry C. "Buddy" Melges Jr. (January 26, 1930 – May 18, 2023) was an American competitive sailor. He earned national and international championships in several classes in conventional sailing and ice-boating and is widely regarded as one of the top racing sailors of all time.[1]
Early life
[edit]Born in Elkhorn, Wisconsin, Melges grew up on Lake Geneva, Wisconsin,[2] sailing the boats designed and manufactured by his father, Harry Melges Sr. Based in Zenda, Wisconsin, Melges Performance Sailboats is still in operation, and is now run by Buddy's son, Harry Melges III.
Sailing career
[edit]Melges was an Olympic gold (Soling, 1972) and bronze (Flying Dutchman, 1964) medalist, a two-time Star world champion (1978 and 1979), a three-time 5.5 Meter world champion (1967, 1973 and 1983), a five-time E-Scow national champion (1965, 1969, 1978, 1979 and 1983), a seven-time skeeter ice boat world champion (1955, 1957, 1970, 1972, 1974, 1980 and 1981), and a three-time Yachtsman of the Year (1961, 1972 and 1978). He helped Bill Koch steer his America3 to a successful defense of the America's Cup in 1992.[2]
Melges was inducted into the America's Cup Hall of Fame in 2001, and to the Inland Lake Yachting Association Hall of Fame in 2002.[3] He was inducted into the National Sailing Hall of Fame in 2011.[4] Melges lectured and taught across the United States and was a member of many yacht clubs. He was characterized as the "Grand Master" of competitive yachting and was called "The Wizard of Zenda".[5]
Death
[edit]Melges died at his Fontana, Wisconsin, home on May 18, 2023, at the age of 93.[6]
References
[edit]- ^ "National Sailing Hall of Fame". www.nshof.org. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- ^ a b Evans, Hilary; Gjerde, Arild; Heijmans, Jeroen; Mallon, Bill; et al. "Buddy Melges Jr". Olympics at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Archived from the original on April 18, 2020. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- ^ "Herreshoff Marine Museum & America's Cup Hall of Fame". www.herreshoff.org. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- ^ "Harry C. Melges 2011 Inductee". Nshof.org. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ WOJCIECHOWSKI, GENE (May 8, 1992). "Captain Marvel : Highly Respected Buddy Melges Speaks His Own Language, Sails a Course Only He Can See". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
- ^ Museler, Chris (May 22, 2023). "Buddy Melges, American Sailing Champion, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
External links
[edit]- Harry Clemens Melges II at World Sailing
- Harry Clemens Melges at Olympics.com
- Buddy Melges Jr. at Olympedia
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- 1930 births
- 2023 deaths
- American male sailors (sport)
- People from Elkhorn, Wisconsin
- People from Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
- 1987 America's Cup sailors
- 1992 America's Cup sailors
- 2000 America's Cup sailors
- Medalists at the 1964 Summer Olympics
- Medalists at the 1972 Summer Olympics
- Olympic bronze medalists for the United States in sailing
- Olympic gold medalists for the United States in sailing
- Sailors at the 1964 Summer Olympics – Flying Dutchman
- Sailors at the 1972 Summer Olympics – Soling
- Soling class sailors
- World champions in sailing for the United States
- Star class world champions
- 5.5 Metre class world champions
- US Sailor of the Year
- Pan American Games gold medalists for the United States in sailing
- Medalists at the 1967 Pan American Games