William Carl Buchan is a champion sailor in a wide variety of  classes. Among other accomplishments, he was College Sailor of the Year in 1977, he competed at the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and won a gold medal in the Flying Dutchman class, and he sailed for Stars & Stripes when they defended the 1988 America’s Cup.

The son of Olympic Gold Medalist and National Sailing Hall of Famer (2013) Bill Buchan, Carl grew up sailing around Mercer Island, Washington.  According to his nominator, “Carl is from that small, but incredible, talent pool of Seattle.  From college sailing to Star boats to the Olympics, Carl has always been at the top level. Though he didn’t go to a college that is [known for] sailing – and he’s also quite tall (not so great in little college dinghies), Carl was Collegiate Sailor of the year.  More significantly, Carl won an Olympic Gold medal at a young age in 1984. He isn’t a professional sailor and doesn’t campaign each year, but it’s so impressive when he ‘drops’ into a class such as the Star and wins the Worlds on San Francisco Bay.”

A Partial List of Accomplishments and Honors

• 1975 1st US Singlehanded Youth Championship (O’Day)
• 1977 ICYRA College Sailor of the Year (University of Washington)
• 1980 1st US Match Racing Championship
• 1984 Gold Medal Olympics – Flying Dutchman
• 1988 America’s Cup Champion (mainsail traveler operator)

Tasar:

• 1998, 2000, 2002 1st, North American Championship
• 1999, 2001 1st National Championship
• 2001 1st World Championship

Laser:

• 1978 1st National Championship
• 1992, 2000 1st North American Championship

505:

• 1985 1st Canadian National Championship
• 1985 1st North American Championship

Star:

• 1992 1st World Championship

FD:

• 1984 Worlds

Soling:

• 1976, 1st, Soling North American Championship