Melges Watersports Center Welcomes Hunter Sorensen as Director

Melges Performance Sailboats is excited to announce Hunter Sorensen as the new Director of the Melges Watersports Center in Merritt Island, Florida. Bringing more than a decade of leadership, coaching, and operational experience, Sorensen will lead the continued growth of the program through community sailing initiatives, youth development, and year-round on-the-water opportunities.

Sorensen joins the Melges team after an extensive tenure at US Sailing Center Martin County, where he progressed from instructor to Sailing Director. Throughout his career, he has built a reputation for developing successful youth sailing programs, creating high-performance training pathways, and fostering strong team culture both on and off the water.

With hands-on experience across every level of sailing operations, Sorensen has led major regattas featuring more than 300 boats and 600 participants, overseeing race management, logistics, volunteer coordination, and event execution. His background also includes instructor development, staff training systems, fleet management, safety operations, and day-to-day facility leadership.

In his new role, Sorensen will lead the continued growth and development of the Melges Watersports Center, with a focus on creating community sailing opportunities, expanding participation, and building new programs that make sailing more accessible and engaging for all experience levels.

“I’m excited to help grow the Melges Watersports Center into a place where people can learn, compete, and build a lifelong connection to sailing,” said Sorensen. “There’s a huge opportunity to create strong community programs, develop sailors at every level, and continue building a positive culture on and off the water.”

Sorensen will also play a key role in facilitating winter sailing opportunities and winter racing series for the MC Scow, Melges 15, and Melges 19 fleets, helping extend access to organized sailing and training opportunities throughout the offseason.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Hunter to the Melges Watersports Center,” said Andy Burdick, President of Melges Performance Sailboats, “His experience in program development, operations, and leadership will be instrumental as we continue expanding the Watersports Center and growing sailing participation within the community.”

The Melges Watersports Center continues to serve as a hub for sailing, watersports, education, and community engagement, offering programs designed to inspire the next generation of sailors while creating memorable on-the-water experiences for all.