If you are a member of the sailing world, soft water or hard water you probably already heard that
Buddy Melgas has passed away. When reading his obituary https://www.sail-
world.com/news/261983/Buddy-Melges-Passes-Away-at-93 it mentioned all the soft water accolades he
earned from E-scow Championships to the Olympics and then on to winning the America’s Cup along
with so many other distinguished awards.

If you are an iceboater and I can imagine you are if you are on this site, other than winning numerous
A Skeeter Championships and of course DN races and regattas, he was also a member of the Nite Class
and can claim the 1979 and 1981 Nite National Championship. I recently learned that the 1979 Nite
Nationals was held on Green Lake, Wisconsin.

Buddy was a big part of my young impressionable life in the sailing world. He loved to sail on Green
Lake, Wisconsin whether it was for soft water sailing or hard water. I was lucky enough to enjoy Buddy’s
company through my mother’s friendship they had. It was the winter after he won the Gold medal in the
Soling class in 1972 when he came to Green Lake, Wis and shared his Gold Medal with us. I felt like the
luckiest girl around when he allowed me to put that Gold Medal around my neck. We must have
discussed my favorite sport at that time which was swimming because I proceeded to ask for his his
autograph.

Rest in Peace “Wizard of Zenda”

Respectfully submitted by,
Maureen K Bohleber
INCA Nite Commodore #497