The Official Magazine of the International Melges 17 ... - Melges.com

MThe Official Magazine of the International Melges 17 Class Association
www.melges17.comM
17 17

The new Melges 17 designs for the 2008 sailing season feature
the new North exclusive AK-06 high performance sail cloth.
When performance counts the choice is clear.
NORTH SAILS ONE DESIGN ZENDA
(262) 275-9728 Fax (262) 275-8012
Sam Rogers sam@od.northsails.com
Harry Melges Andy Burdick Gordy Bowers Jamie Kimball
er
Faster by Design
www.OneDesign.com
All About One Design Sailing

Speed baby...
The Melges 17 earned its right in 2007 to deliver speed to those that have the need and more.
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BUILDER’S REPORT | MELGES PERFORMANCE SAILBOATS
The image of my first Melges 17 ride is
engrained in my memory forever. We had
our first boat sailing in St. Petersburg,
Florida. Harry Melges and I zipped up and
down the bay sporting our new Melges 17.
On lookers watched as the could not
believe the responsiveness and modern
appearance to the boat. This brand new
Scow is changing the way people think
about sailboat racing. The boat is fast,
responsive and eye catching to say the
least. When we pulled the boat out of the
water that day there was a swarm of
people asking “What is this new boat? Can
we go for a ride?” After going for a ride on
the Melges 17, selling this boat is easy.
What the Midwest has enjoyed for more
than 100 years is now being experienced
in the Southeast of the country — full
force. The excitement generated by the
Melges 17, in just a few short years has
spread as far West as Denver, Colorado
and reached into the mid-Atlantic and
Southeast to places like North and South
Carolina, Georgia and Florida — big fleets
and Melges speed! The Melges 17 is hot
and continues to get hotter. We are
getting over hull number 200 now. The
interest has not come close to reaching
its peak. Visit www.melges17.com and
see for yourself — the 2008 regatta
schedule has expanded two-fold. The
number of events is impressive indeed!
This boat is exciting, just like that first ride
for me, I remember it well. Each time I
crew or take a potential customer for a
demonstration sail that same smile comes
to my face. The enthusiasm is there for me
and everyone on the Melges Team. The
Melges 17 is an incredible platform and a
boat that will be in our Scow heritage for
many years to come!
Hats off to Reichel Pugh for helping us
make this world class design a reality and
to the entire Melges Team that builds a
high-quality sailing package in Zenda,
Wisconsin. Melges Pride is installed into
every one of these beautiful boats.
Say NO to slow and YES to fast!
Get a Melges 17!
Andy Burdick
President
Melges Performance Sailboats
P.O. Box 1
Zenda, Wisconsin 53195 USA
Phone: (262) 275-1110
Email: andy@melges.com
Web: www.melges.com
WWW.MELGES17.COM | INTERNATIONAL MELGES 17 CLASS ASSOCIATION

CONTENTS
2008 M17 YEARBOOK
The Official Magazine of the International Melges 17 Class Association
www.melges17.com
SPEED BABY ................................................................................................3
The Melges 17 possesses speed unlike any other.
BUILDER’S REPORT ........................................................................................4
Andy Burdick, Melges Performance Sailboats
A LEGEND LOST: REMEMBERING LARRY BRAND......................................................6
The 2007 started in tragedy as the class lost a pioneer, friend and fierce competitor.
IGGY LABANAUSKAS | 2007 U.S. NATIONAL CHAMPION............................................7
Young, energetic and inspiring — Iggy Labanauskas stormed the fleet to win Nationals
in Crystal Lake, Michigan.
SAY YES TO FAST, AND NO TO SLOW ....................................................................8
The 2007 U.S. Nationals was the third Championship for the Melges 17 — big fleets,
lots of races and tons of fun!
LADIES & GENTLEMEN ....................................................................................9
The latest trend in Melges boats is female participation, and the M17 is no exception!
I.L. YEAH ....................................................................................................10
A warm welcome into the I.L.Y.A. stable of Scows.
GO. GO. GO. ................................................................................................12
There are more pictures than pages can hold of Melges 17 racing action in 2007!
2008 EVENTS SCHEDULE ................................................................................14
ON THE COVER: Andy Labanauskas plays the shifts on Lake Pewaukee at the very first
2007 I.L.Y.A. Championship. Photo by JH Peterson
J H PETERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
1170 JANDEL CIRCLE
ST. MICHAEL, MN 55376 USA
(612) 910 1716
PETERSONJH@HOTMAIL.COM PETERSONJH.COM

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H O N O R I N G
LARRY BRAND
Look for this decal within the fleet. It is a symbol of
Larry’s ongoing spirit and drive for the Melges 17.
A Legend Lost:
Remembering Larry Brand
1954 -2007. On Sunday, March 11, 2007
following the awards ceremony for the
Melges 17 Midwinter Championship, the
M17 fleet lost one of its beloved owners
and fiercest competitors. Captain for
Fleet Number 1, Larry Brand, from White
Lake, Michigan died suddenly after finishing
the regatta with his wife Colleen.
Larry not only left behind his family of
four sons — Kevin, Keith (regular crew
with Larry), Mac and Beau, but also left
behind a legacy of accomplishments that
no one will forget. After establishing the
very first Melges 17 fleet, he campaigned
hard to conduct the very first Melges 17
National Championship held at White
Lake in 2005.
Shortly after his death, members of
the class established the Larry Brand
Memorial Series Trophy in his honor. The
new racing series was initially announced
at the Lake Eustis event and it seemed
only appropriate that this perpetual
trophy bear the name of a true class
champion, a pivotal figure and dear
friend. The trophy is a symbol of the
camaraderie within the class and is
designed to help build participation in
the many events that fill the yearly Melges
17 racing calendar. Through this trophy,
Larry's perseverance and passion for the
Melges 17 lives on.
WWW.MELGES17.COM | INTERNATIONAL MELGES 17 CLASS ASSOCIATION

Congratulations!
Iggy Labanauskas
2007 Melges 17 U.S. National Champion
and National Ranking Champion
Lake Geneva prodigy Iggy Labanauskas
had an incredible year in the Melges 17!
Beginning with a successful Midwinter
Championship, then on to several more
winning regattas Andy delivered a
consistent performance. Topping it off
was his drive for the Larry Brand Trophy
that brought him to Nationals at Crystal
Lake, Michigan."I was really geared up
for the Larry Brand Trophy," commented
Labanauskas. "I came here thinking that if
I win the Nationals great, but I really
wanted to win the Larry Brand Trophy. I
really have to thank my brother for sailing
with me all this season at the past events.”
Adding to his collection of accomplishments
Iggy was also awarded the title of
National Ranking Champion. This was
the first year that the Melges 17 offered
a ranking competition. He topped the
charts with a whopping 462 points, fifty
points ahead of second place ranked
Mary Anne Ward with 412 points. Part
of accepting the title meant taking
possession of the Larry Brand Memorial
Ranking Series Trophy. The presentation
was started by Larry's son Keith
delivering a very endearing speech, then
the trophy was presented to Iggy by
Regatta Chair Bob Wynkoop. "My dad
would be so proud to know that this
trophy was established in his honor,"
said Brand. Labanauskas expressed his
own endearing words, "I can't begin to
tell you all how much winning this trophy
really means to me. If I would have
left here not winning the championship,
yet winning this instead, I would have
been just as happy."
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S A Y
YES
T O
FAST
AND NO TO SLOW.
2007 National
Champion Iggy
Labanauskas
Three National Championships down and
many more to go is the slogan of the
Melges 17. Is the Melges 17 fast? At the
2007 U.S. Nationals in Crystal Lake,
Michigan, with a fleet of 30, six — that’s
right — SIX of the ten scheduled series
races were completed in one day! The
Melges 17 is accustomed to pulling out
all the speed stops when it comes
to Scow racing.
Congratulations to Iggy Labanauksas as
he and his crew of Andy Burdick. They are
the 2007 Melges 17 National Champions!

2007 Nationals Regatta Chair,
Bob Wynkoop
The Bowers: Eric and Gordy get down
to it at Nationals!
Stay tuned to the official web site of the Melges 17 Class
Association at www.melges17.com for more information
about the 2008 Melges 17 National Championship!
Mark Unicume
traveled from
Colorado
WWW.MELGES17.COM | INTERNATIONAL MELGES 17 CLASS ASSOCIATION
Ladies
Gentlemen &
Just take a look around and tell us what you see? With
more and more ladies populating the race course, female
participation is commonplace. Women like Mary Anne
Ward who claimed third place at Nationals, Angie Wiggins
won three Fall regattas with her husband Bill, Deb
McMurray lead her team to a W.M.Y.A. Championship win,
Sue Sullivan and Augie Barkow at the Inland — they are
among the leading ladies frequently found at the helm.
Girls, gals, ladies what every you prefer to call them... ‘Role
Model’ is by far the best! No one can deny that their
participation is on the increase. After all, the Melges 17 is
the perfect boat for girls of all ages. You can do this boat!
Its light as feather displacement make this an exhilarating
ride, one that is fun, fulfilling and simply invigorating.

I.L.YEAH!
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In 2007, the Melges 17 Class was officially welcomed into the I.L.Y.A. (Inland Yachting Association) family and mid-July delivered a speedfest
on Pewaukee Lake where 22 teams showed their stuff. The racing, not to mention the party memories still linger and definitely set the pace
for the future of the Melges 17 Class.
Class kick-starter Bill Wiggins (sailing here with Meg Six) sails to a fifth place finish in Pewaukee.
WWW.MELGES17.COM | INTERNATIONAL MELGES 17 CLASS ASSOCIATION

Augie and Sue blast downwind!
Melges 17 fleet action is mesmerizing!
More speed! More fun!
Coed pairings max out the rivalry
in the Melges 17!
2008 I.L.Y.A. Melges 17 Championship
July 18-20 • Pewaukee, Wisconsin
www.melges17.com | www.melges.com
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GO. GO. GO.
Pictures, pictures and more pictures! 2007 was filled with some of the greatest moments in Scow racing and the Melges 17 was anything
but camera shy! There is no other boat quite like the Melges 17! The members of the class are dedicated and passionate about what this
boat stands for. Here, in a few of thousands of images taken, the action, fun and many formed friendships speak louder than words.
Augie Barkow and Sue Sullivan heat it up on Lake Pewaukee for the 2007 I.L.Y.A. Championship.
20+ Melges 17s at the start is a spectacular sight!
WWW.MELGES17.COM | INTERNATIONAL MELGES 17 CLASS ASSOCIATION

Iggy Labanauskas and Harry Melges, III Stellar competition reigns
supreme with the Melges 17.
From every angle, the Melges 17 is sharp as a tack. And just because she looks good doesn’t mean that the competition is a push over.
It’s not. In fact, it’s heavy duty, one design optimized.
No doubt the Melges 17 is an awesome
double-handed sailboat — perfect for friends,
siblings, husbands and wives.
Fleet action in the Melges 17 is exciting,
no matter the venue!
Brian Porter takes the heat of competition in stride.
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2008 | EVENTS SCHEDULE
DATE
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
EVENT LOCATION CONTACT
1/31 - 2/3 STRICTLY SAIL CHICAGO BOAT SHOW Navy Pier; Chicago, IL Andy Burdick
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
andy@melges.com
2/16 - 2/17 38TH ANNUAL GEORGE WASHINGTON REGATTA Lake Eustis Sailing Club; Lake Eustis, Florida Ray Laguna
RayLaguna5@aol.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3/6 - 3/6 MELGES 17 ZENDA UNIVERSITY Lake Eustis Sailing Club; Lake Eustis, Florida Andy Burdick
andy@melges.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3/7 - 3/9 MELGES 17 MIDWINTER CHAMPIONSHIP Lake Eustis Sailing Club; Lake Eustis, Florida Mary Anne Ward
mm2125@aol.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
3/21 - 3/22 EASTER REGATTA Carolina Yacht Club; Charleston, South Carolina Andy Burdick
andy@melges.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
5/10 - 5/11 MELGES 17 SPRING REGATTA Lake Geneva Yacht Club; Lake Geneva, Wisconsin Andy Burdick
andy@melges.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
6/14 - 6/15 BLUE WATER REGATTA Crystal Lake Yacht Club; Frankfort, Michigan Bob Wynkoop
wynkoop@sbcglobal.net
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
6/27 - 6/29 GRAND LAKE INVITATIONAL REGATTA Grand Lake Yacht Club; Grand Lake, Colorado Mark Unicume
beunicume@yahoo.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
7/18 - 7/20 MELGES 17 I.L.Y.A. CHAMPIONSHIP Pewaukee Yacht Club; Pewaukee, WI Andy Burdick
andy@melges.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
10/11 - 10/12 HALLOWEEN REGATTA Augusta Sailing Club; Augusta, Georgia Bill Wiggins
bill@latisyachting.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
11/15 - 11/16 SOUTHEAST REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Lake Eustis Sailing Club; Lake Eustis, FL Jim Lingeman
lingejnl@aol.com
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
A full list of 2008 events is available online at www.melges17.com.
14 WWW.MELGES17.COM | INTERNATIONAL MELGES 17 CLASS ASSOCIATION