Checking in with an Inland Legend

Bill Allen, 1972 Olympic Gold Medalist with Buddy Melges, began sailing in Minnesota and developed a national reputation for competitive racing as a youngster. Bill won his first of seven cumulative Class E Inland Lakes Yachting Association Championships in 1967 when he was only 19 years old. He went on to win the E Scow National Championship six times starting in 1970 at which time he began his successful Olympic Campaign with Buddy Melges in the Soling Class.

Here Bill responds to a few questions at Windrider…

What makes a good sailboat?
I think all sailboats are good, some are just more fun to race and others are more fun to cruise in. I always say, any boat would be fun to race if there were enough around. I even once had fun in a tech dinghy. Those things are tippy.

Where is your favorite place to sail?
It’s Pewaukee, WI. I just seem to have the right mojo on that lake, always have. For cruising my choice is the BVI, mostly because I get to be with my kids and my daughter is the captain so I don’t have to be.

If you could race on any boat what would it be?
An E scow, there is nothing better… or maybe an ice boat.