![]() Buddy spoke about their America’s Cup days and how remarkable it was for a guy who came from the Scow world Bill could make a 12-meter sail faster. Sailing legend Buddy Melges came to the podium, fixing his steely blue eyes on Mauretta and the family for a full minute, not saying a word, holding the audience in his hand while he made us wait. They never wasted a minute, not even in the bathroom where Peter assumed “they had a drill press installed.” Peter acknowledged those who traveled from afar, including New Jersey Skeeter sailor Dan Clapp and America’s Cup alumni from San Diego. Peter Harken shared his amazement at Bill and Paul Krueger’s work ethic. At an older age, Bill figured out computers. Having never dealt with computers, he learned to operate a mini CNC mill for creating scale model Mattison Circus parts. ![]() Kyle Metzloff, a sailor, ice sailor, and UW Professor of Industrial Metal studies, spoke about Bill’s genius and ability to pick up new and complicated ideas. Bill told Mauretta that Lon had purchased the boat, while Lon was to tell Donna that it was Bill’s boat.ĭr. He left us laughing with a story about how Bill schemed how they would sell the idea of buying an A Scow to their wives, Donna and Mauretta. ![]() Lon Schoor, Bill’s long-time Mendota Yacht Club A Scow partner, marveled at no matter how complicated the project Bill was so organized in his thoughts that he didn’t have to write anything down and always made the deadline. Bill fixed the machine and came back with the pictures. Larry shared the famous story of the day Bill took the film of the AC boat to the one-hour photo store, where he learned that the store’s processing machine was on the fritz. “Yeah, I know a little about that.” America’s Cup veteran, Larry Malik, recalled Bill’s typically understated reply when asked if he could fix a photo processing machine during an AC Australian campaign. When Bill saw the semi-truck full of Sitka Spruce roll into the shop parking lot, he turned to Rick and said, “That’s the stuff dreams are made of.”īill’s neighbor said that when Bill came over to watch him tinker in his garage, it was “like God himself coming to watch a mere mortal.” Rick recounted that experience with great affection and humor. Here are a few highlights from the people invited by emcee Don Sanford to share their best stories.īill organized the building of a new hull for the world’s largest iceboat, Rick Hennig’s DEUCE. It was a privilege to witness a group of highly accomplished individuals speak in awe of their friend. ![]() The memories of Bill shared by those who had preceded Billy were unique and moving. “He would have hated this.” Billy Mattison reminded the packed room at Gunderson’s Funeral Home about the humble nature of his father, Bill. ![]()
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