This three-time Yachtsman of the Year, Olympic bronze (’64 FD) and gold medallist (’72 Soling) hails from Zenda, Wisconsin, and is considered to be America’s greatest natural sailor ever. Known as the “Wizard of Zenda,” Melges (b. 1930) has won the Star and Soling worlds plus a slew of Scow and iceboat championships.
In 1992, he helped Bill Koch steer America3 to a successful defense of the America’s Cup. Melges is currently chairman of the family boatbuilding company.
