Fond du Lac Sailing Club

Daysailor racing off to a good start.

Fond du Lac Sailing Club Brings Sailing Film to FDL

MELGES: The Wizard of Zenda, a film about the life of sailing legend Buddy Melges, will be screened on Friday, May 10 at 7 p.m. in the Goodrich Little Theater in Fond du Lac. Admission is $15 (cash) to cover the cost of obtaining the film. Wizard of Zenda takes the viewer on a fascinating journey through the career of one of the greatest sailors in the history of the sport.

This is the untold story of Buddy Melges, a fiercely competitive but beloved sailor who won Olympic medals and championships. But the pinnacle of sailing eluded him: the America’s Cup. Melges grew up near the small village of Zenda, Wisconsin. This, plus his intuitive, some would say ‘mystical’ powers to see and feel the wind, earned him the nickname: The Wizard of Zenda.

Melges won the respect and admiration of his peers and adversaries. And many of sailings biggest icons are interviewed for the film, including 3-time America’s Cup winner Dennis Conner, Australian champion John Bertrand, former ESPN sailing analyst and America’s Cup winner Gary Jobson, and Bill Koch, the billionaire businessman who teamed up with Melges in the 1992 America’s Cup.

Quicklier Film Partners Executive Producer Anne Peterson chose long-time partner and filmmaker Mark Honer to write and direct Wizard of Zenda. “It’s been a long road, but we’re excited to share this amazing story,” said Peterson, who grew up sailing the same waters as Melges at Lake Geneva, Wisconsin. “Many people know about Buddy’s championships. But not many know how he used that winning platform to teach not just sailing, but lessons about humility, honesty, persistence and overcoming adversity”.

“This film is not only for sailors, but for leaders of organizations who want to learn how to foster relationships and team building within an organization,” said Andy Gratton, Commodore of the Fond du Lac Sailing Club.

Through exhaustive research, the filmmakers uncovered film, photo and video archives from Buddy’s 60 year sailing career, including a 1946 regional regatta where Buddy competed at age 16, the 1972 Olympic games where Melges won Gold, the 1982 Star Worlds, and a World Iceboat championship which Buddy won in 2001. “The jackpot was getting unprecedented access to over 100 hours of behind-the-scenes archival footage of the 1992 America3 campaign,” said Honer.

Quicklier Film Partners is partnering with organizations and sponsors to distribute the documentary through private screenings, events and film festivals. To learn more visit WizardofZenda.com or email the filmmakers at [email protected].

Lake Winnebago sees a new generation of sailors The Fond du Lac Yacht Club has been offering free sailing lessons to local kids every summer for 64 years.

Meet the First Woman to Sail the ‘Voyage for Madmen’ Kirsten Neuschäfer talks about winning the nonstop, round-the-world Golden Globe race and the possibility of another circumnavigation.

BOATING SKILLS AND SAFETY COURSE

The Fond du Lac Coast Guard Auxiliary will present the Wisconsin DNR 12 hour Safe Boating Course from 6 to 9 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday evenings, April 25, April 27 and May 4 and 9 at the Fond du Lac Yacht Club, 705 Mohawk Avenue.

This course satisfies Wisconsin regulations that require completion of boating safety certification by adults born in 1989 or later who operate a boat or personal water craft. Youth age 12 to 16 may operate a boat or personal watercraft without an adult by completing this Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources-prescribed Boating Safety Course.

Course content includes boat types, legal requirements, safety rules, right of way, buoys, boat handling, emergencies and trailering. The Coast Guard Auxiliary and a DNR warden provide instruction.

The course is for adults and youth age 12 or older. A $10 book fee is charged. Class size is limited and pre-registration is required. Register online: http://gowild.wi.gov/customers/safetyedclass and select the “BOAT” class for Fond du Lac County.

Department of Homeland Security

UNITED STATES COAST GUARD AUXILIARY

THE CIVILIAN COMPONENT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

DEDICATED TO PROMOTING RECREATIONAL BOATING SAFETY

Go Wild - Find a Class to Enroll In

Drone footage from July 7th Sunset Cruise

Fond du Lac Sailing Club 07/07/2022