American sailor (1930–2023)
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]
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.
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]
Melges died at his Fontana, Wisconsin , home on May 18, 2023, at the age of 93.[ 6]
^ "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 .
Fleet racing
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
Fleet racing
1969 Dane , LeBlanc , Cerise
1970 United States Melges
1971 United States Melges
1972 Olympic year - not held
1973 H. Fogh
1974 United States Melges
1975 Australia Forbes , Anderson , O'Neil
1976 Olympic year - not held
1977 P. Hall
1978 H. Fogh
1979 P. Hall
1980 Brazil T. Grael , Adler , Senfft
1981 H. Fogh
1982 H. Fogh
1983 United States Chapin
1984 Abbott, Jr.
1985 H. Fogh
1986 H. Fogh
1987 Not held
1988 Abbott, Jr.
1989 Thomson , Flinn , Gow
1990 Beatty
1991 Thomson , Flinn , Gow
1992 Abbott, Jr.
1993 United States Madrigali
1994 United States Kolius
1995 South Africa Savage
2002 Huczek , T. Rickards, Hymers
2004 Mitchel , MacKnight , Davy
2005 Huczek , Hymers , Logar
2006 H. Fogh , Cheer , Devries
2007 H. Fogh , Cheer , Devries
2008 H. Fogh , Cheer , Findlater
2009 H. Fogh , Cheer , Devries
2010 H. Fogh , Cheer , Devries
2011 Abbott, Jr. , Lacey /M. Abbott , J. Abbott
2012 H. Fogh , Cheer , Devries
2013 Abbott, Jr. , M. Abbott , Bamford
2014 T. Fogh , Cheer , Devries
2015 P. Hall , W. Hall , Lacey
2016 T. Fogh , Cheer , Devries
2017 P. Hall , Lacey , Paccarar
2018 P. Hall , W. Hall , Lacey
2019 Bruce Clifford, M. Abbott , N. Abbott
Fleet racing
1969: Dane , Le Blanc & Cerise
1970: Curtis , Doyle & Cormier
1971: Mosbacher , Hutcheson & Dickey
1972: Curtis , J. Curtis , Rousmaniere & Nystedt
1973: Dakin , J. Dakin & Crowler
1974: Kolius , Hoepfner & Hunt
1975: Forbes , Anderson & O'Neil
1976: Buchan , Buchan & Scorett
1977: Fogh , Toews & Kerr
1978: Haines , Trevelyan & V. Brun
1979: Abbott Jr. , Abbott Sr. & Bissel
1980: Allen , Hoffman & Porter
1981: Grael , Adler & Senfft
1982: Baird , Klein & Edmundson
1983: Melges , Melges III & H. Melges
1984: Fogh , Toews & Calder
1985: Fogh , Calder & Maru
1986: Fogh , Calder & Maru
1987: Kostecki , Billingham & Baylis
1988: Mahaney , L. Mahaney & Brady
1989: Mahaney , Brady & Kern
1990: Mahaney , Brady & Kern
1991: Mahaney , Brady & Kern
1992: Klein , Corwin & Burns
1993: Klein , Corwin & Burns
1994: Fogh , T. Fogh & van Wonderen
1995: Madrigali , Barton & Massey
1996: Madrigali , Barton & Massey
1997: Curtis , McKlintock & Anderson
1998: Madrigali , Healy & Jordan
1999: Curtis , Hart & Brenner
2000: Larsen , Anderson & Moffett
2001: Heitzinger , Tennity & Santos
2002: Johnsson , M. Johnsson & Leslie
2003: Johnsson , M. Johnsson & Hernandez
2004: Abbott Jr. , Tucker & Turvey
2005: Abbott Jr. , J. Abbott & Boston
2006: Johnsson , M. Johnsson & Hernandez
2007: Fogh , Cheer & Devries
2008: Fogh , Cheer & Devries
2009: P. Hall , Kerrigan & Flynn
2010: Fogh , Cheer & Devries
2011: Kanter , Tully & Freemann
2012: P. Hall , Davis & W. Hall
2013: Fogh , Findlater & Devries
2014: P. Hall , Davis & W. Hall
2015: P. Hall , W. Hall & Lacey
2016: Abbott Jr. , Davis & J. Abbott
2017: P. Hall , W. Hall & Devries
2018: Kanter , Willan & Devries
2019: den Outer , de Lange & Bosch
2020: Not held due to COVID-19
2021: Not held due to COVID-19
Match racing