IN the spring issue of Sailing World, I authored a column that posed a simple but important question: Where are our modern-day sailing heroes? And now, with a new film featuring the extraordinary sailing career of Buddy Melges, I'm still wondering.
The first public screening of this 85-minute documentary was at the Annapolis Film Festival on a bleak, rainy Saturday morning in March. To my surprise, 600 people showed up to see this film about the most accomplished racing sailor of our era. His accomplishments are awe-inspiring: Olympic champion, winning America's Cup helmsman, Star-class world champion, superstar of numerous Scow classes, iceboat champion, three-time Rolex Yachtsman of the Year. He's an author, a modest, downhome guy who likes to spin a good yarn, and a consummate outdoorsman who found great joy sitting in a duck blind on a cold day.
There's no one quite like Buddy, and while I've said it once, I'll say it again: Our sport needs heroes to inspire all of us, and this film, Melges: The Wizard of Zenda, is just the inspiration we need. It's a must-see for every sailor.
The film was the vision of longtime broadcast journalist Anne Peterson, who spends time in Lake Geneva. Her original intent was to produce a modest documentary on the history of the Lake Geneva YC in Wisconsin. But in 2014, the project took a turn when she decided to focus on Melges himself. Peterson hired veteran filmmaker Mark Honer to direct the film, and over the next six years, they interviewed prominent sailors about Melges' life and his impact on sailing. Among the notables featured are Dennis Conner, Bill Koch, Australian America's Cup winner John Bertrand, Peter Harken, his Olympic crews Bill Allen and Bill Bentsen, his sons Hans and Harry, champion scow sailors Brian and John Porter, inland-lakes historian Tom Hodgson, Hall of Fame sailor Jane Pagel, filmmaker Dick Enersen and myself.
Esta historia es de la edición Summer 2023 de Sailing World.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición Summer 2023 de Sailing World.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Tips for More Successful Epoxy Projects
That have nothing to do with epoxy mixing or application techniques
Auxiliary Rear Station Build
From past fishing experiences, I've learned that quick changes in speed and direction are often required when retrieving a hooked fish.
TARGETED PERFORMERS
Defending their title at the 420 Youth Worlds in July, Freddie Parkin and Asher Beck were on a roll-until they weren't.
BALANCE ON THE PINNACLE
The path to gender equity in the Olympics has been a long and twisted one, but when the sailors assemble in Marseille next year, we'll finally see what's been a long time coming.
SIMPLE STEPS TO CONSISTENT SPEED
Boatspeed is the magic ingredient for winning races because we can get away with bad decisions if we are fast, but we can't make good choices if we're slow.
THREE-DIMENSIONAL JIB-LEAD ADJUSTMENTS
Floating jib leads give trimmers more dynamic control of the headsail profile.
BETTER TOGETHER
Success over three decades comes down to making it meaningful.
JUSTINE THE MACHINE
This self-effacing Swiss sailor has-in her quiet and understated way become one of the stars of offshore ocean racing in recent years, whether as part of a winning crew in The Ocean Race or building her credentials as a top-class solo racer.
THE MULTITASKING MULTIHULL MOM
Competing in Olympic sailing's most challenging discipline is one thing, but doing so with a tyke in tow takes the campaign hustle to a higher level.
CONNECTED COAST TO COAST
From sunny St. Pete to historic Marblehead, the 34th edition of the Regatta Series linked sailors and friends across the country, with a few new twists.
