Buddy Melges
Melges in 1992 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Born | (1930-01-26)January 26, 1930 Elkhorn, Wisconsin, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | May 18, 2023(2023-05-18) (aged 93) Fontana, Wisconsin, U.S. | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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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
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
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
Melges died at his Fontana, Wisconsin, home on May 18, 2023, at the age of 93.[6]
References
- ^ "National Sailing Hall of Fame". www.nshof.org. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
- ^ 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 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
- ^ "Herreshoff Marine Museum & America's Cup Hall of Fame". www.herreshoff.org. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
- ^ "Harry C. Melges 2011 Inductee". Nshof.org. Retrieved April 12, 2020.
- ^ WOJCIECHOWSKI, GENE (1992-05-08). "Captain Marvel : Highly Respected Buddy Melges Speaks His Own Language, Sails a Course Only He Can See". Los Angeles Times. ISSN 0458-3035. Retrieved 2019-03-15.
- ^ Museler, Chris (22 May 2023). "Buddy Melges, American Sailing Champion, Dies at 93". The New York Times. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
External links
- Harry Clemens Melges II at World Sailing
- Harry Clemens Melges at Olympics.com
- Buddy Melges Jr. at Olympedia
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- 1971 Dane, LeBlanc, Cerise
- 1972 Goldsmith
- 1973 Canada Fogh
- 1974 Melges
- 1975 Kolius
- 1976 Melges
- 1977 Curtis
- 1978 Curtis
- 1979 Haines
- 1980 Baird
- 1981 Canada Fogh
- 1982 Canada Fogh
- 1983 Curtis
- 1984 Haines
- 1985 Canada Fogh
- 1986 Canada Fogh
- 1987 Kostecki
- 1988 Kostecki
- 1989 Canada Abbott, Jr., M. Abbott, Beatty
- 1990 Canada Fogh
- 1991 Mahaney
- 1992 Mahaney
- 1993 Not completed
- 1994 Klein
- 1995 Madrigali
- 1996 Madrigali
- 2001 J. Hoeksema, Wolf, R. Hoeksema
- 2002 Cohan, Buttner, Gladchin
- 2003 Walker
- 2004 Wareham, Vance, Brackett
- 2005 Galloway, Steinborn, Anthony
- 2006 Canada P. Hall, Karrigan, Deacon
- 2007 Canada P. Hall, Parekh, Parsons
- 2008 Canada Fogh, Cheer, Findlater
- 2010 Canada Fogh, Fich, Devries
- 2011 Gallaway, Proctor, Ewing
- 2012 Canada Fogh, Fich, Devries
- 2013 Canada P. Hall, Lacey, W. Hall
- 2014 Canada P. Hall, Parsons, W. Hall
- 2015 Canada P. Hall, Lacey, W. Hall
- 2016 Canada P. Hall, Lacey, W. Hall
- 2017 Germany Dietzel, Zeileis, Ramoser
- 2018 Canada P. Hall, Lacey, W. Hall
- 2019 Canada P. Hall, Scott McNeil, W. Hall