- See Less -Gordy is best known as one of the world’s elite sailing coaches; he boasts a proven track record to match. His extensive knowledge, experience and athletic excellence play an intricate role at Melges Performance Sailboats and North Sails Zenda. With more than 40 years of sailing success, Gordy’s contributions to the Melges team, as well as the customer base, are invaluable.
Gordy’s educational background is as impressive as his sailing resume. He received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Minnesota in 1964. In 1967, he acquired a Juris Doctor from the University of Wisconsin Law School. In 1968, he was admitted to the Minnesota Bar. As if a stellar education wasn’t enough, Gordy paired academic achievement with an astounding performance on the water:
1968-1969: U.S. Single-handed Champion
1968-1970: U.S. Sailing Team
1969: Finn North American Champion
1974: DN Iceboat Northwest Champion
1976: U.S. Olympic Team Tuning Partner
1977-1978: E Scow National Champion
1978-1980: U.S. Sailing Team
1985-1986: C Scow National Champion
1992: Melges MC Scow National Champion
1993: A Scow I.L.Y.A. Champion
“Gordy Bowers is a world-class sailing competitor and coach with innumerable wins to his credit. I first met Gordy when he coached our Star team in the 1987 Pan American Games, where we won the Gold medal,” says Vince Brun, multiple world champion sailor and president of North Sails One Design. “With his extensive One Design experience, Gordy is a great asset to the North Sails and Melges teams.”
In addition to the Pan American Games, his head coaching experience includes the U.S. Olympic Yachting Team and the Goodwill Games, as well as providing individual and group professional coaching. He has won many U.S. championships in racing, while skippering a variety of sailboats, including the Finn, Flying Dutchman, Melges A Scow, Melges E Scow, Melges C Scow, Melges MC Scow and Flying Scot.
As Executive Director of the Lake Minnetonka Sailing School, one of the largest and most reputable sailing schools in the U.S., he can still be found sailing Scows and Sportboats, in particular the Melges 17 with Melges X Boat Champion and nephew Eric Bowers. One of his many philosophies is to view learning as a process of discovery — on the water or off.
From
Melges.com 
Interview W/ Gordy Bowers, Head Coach Of The 1988 US Olympic Sailing Team
