04/20/2024
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].
