Gil Hackel at 8 years old is already beginning to live the words of Andre Gide. In his second year of Opti competition he is constantly working at getting better. If the conditions are safe, the Gulf Breeze Elementary 2nd Grader wants to be out on the water at the Pensacola Yacht Club. He is looking forward to July when he will compete in the Texas Youth Races at Houston. Until then he will continue to work on his sailing under Coach Tom Whitehurst. Under his watchful eye, Gil will continue to refine his nautical skills with hope to eventually compete in the USODA Optimist Nationals in San Francisco, California. Only twenty five percent of the top Opti sailors from around the world are eligible to compete.
Neither one of Gil’s parents, Melissa and Josh have ever been sailors. Melissa explains that they enrolled him in summer sail camp at Pensacola Yacht Club and he has taken to sailing ever since. Pensacola Yacht Club was one of the first yacht clubs to sponsor youth sailing, so junior members can get involved using club boats. Bert Rice is the summer camp director and helps coordinate the youth program. “Well that first summer camp experience opened the world of sailing to this young man. Since then there has been no turning back for Gil“ says Bert.
Josh, a sports medicine physician at the internationally renowned Andrews Institute, said he was encouraged to get Gil involved in the sport of sailing by Dr. James Andrews. Dr. Andrews became involved in sailing when he was in medical school and remains involved with America’s Cup sailing. He says starting at Gil’s age, he could stay with sailing his whole life and possibly get where he could captain a larger ship one day. The basic skills you learn such as boating safety, navigation, and boatmanship stay with you your whole life. Although Gil might be a little undersized for his age his Opti is the same size as everyone else.
Gil is like most of your typical 8 year olds. He plays baseball and soccer and is even taking piano lessons. When you ask him what he really wants to do, he grins and says sailing his Opti. Younger sister Claire is looking to begin in the youth sailing program this summer also. But he says racing is fun, and he does not like to lose, but learning to get better and working on improving is his biggest enjoyment. The other fun aspect to sailing is he is able to travel to different regattas around the country to race. With the travel he gets to see different places and meet people from around the USA and from other countries.
Coach Whitehurst, Director of Team Cast (Coastal Area Sailing Team), says although Gil is one of the youngest of the 20 kids involved, he is progressing rapidly. He has allowed Gil to help crew on one of the six-man boats. Tom says safety is of the utmost importance and each member has to rig their own Opti and wear a life vest the whole time on the water. Watching these young people grow and develop self- resilience and carry a passion for the sport is very satisfying. Maybe, just maybe one of the young sailors will match Tom in becoming an Olympic sailor.
In a boat not much bigger than a bathtub for now, Gil Hackel has developed a love for being on the water with the wind as his power. What future shores lay ahead for him only time will tell. One thing that you definitely can see is he has developed a sailor’s stare from reading the sails and wind. With that is also a sense of confidence and independence from having to rely on himself. Do not be surprised if the sirens of the sea latch on to his heart and he keeps the sail with the wind.
June 2016
At the Helm
Emerald Coast
Written by: Arnold Gamber
Photography by: Katherine Quarles and Spiros Zachos
