14 Questions to … Hal Gilreath

Hal Gilreath, Snipe Sailor from Jacksonvile - 1) Your first time on a sailing boat? Probably about the time I was 3 or 4 years old. I don't remember exactly. - 2) Your first time on a Snipe? I remember sailing the Atlanta Yacht Club Open in 1970. I crewed for my dad and didn't have much idea what I was doing. I stood on the deck to jibe the pole. - 3) The most bizarre thing that happened in a regatta? Getting washed out of an intercollegiate 420 as it planed down the East River. I was hanging onto the transom and the tiller. My crew was yelling "hey, what are you doing? Get back in the boat". I was like, sure, no problem.

14 Questions to … Hal Gilreath Image

Hal Gilreath, Snipe Sailor from Jacksonvile

– 1) Your first time on a sailing boat?

Probably about the time I was 3 or 4 years old. I don’t remember exactly.

– 2) Your first time on a Snipe?

I remember sailing the Atlanta Yacht Club Open in 1970. I crewed for my dad and didn’t have much idea what I was doing. I stood on the deck to jibe the pole.

– 3) The most bizarre thing that happened in a regatta?

Getting washed out of an intercollegiate 420 as it planed down the East River. I was hanging onto the transom and the tiller. My crew was yelling “hey, what are you doing? Get back in the boat”. I was like, sure, no problem.

– 4) What is the thing that most angers you in a race/regatta?

Poor sportsmanship.

– 5) Which is the race/regatta that you remember with the most pleasure?

Winning the Military World Championships in Karachi, Pakistan. You don’t get a chance to sail on the Arabian Sea often. Nor do you get to represent your country as the single entry from your country. I can only imagine what winning an Olympic medal would be like.

Winning the second race at the Worlds in Sweden.

– 6) And the race/regatta you would like to forget?

2005 Worlds from a finish perspective. We had sailed well all year and the conditions were to our favor. We just didn’t execute and perform.

– 7) Your “dream in the peak”? (Your sailing dream?)

To be able to sail competitively and enjoy the friendships made through sailing for the next 30+ years.

– 8) Sailing goals for 2013, and beyond?

Stay as active as possible and get my 13 year old daughter to sail with me more.

– 9) The most important people for you in sailing and in the Snipe?

My wife and daughter now. My dad got me out sailing and instilled the competitive spirit in me. Craig Leweck got me reintroduced to the Snipe in 1986. Without some fortuitous scheduling who knows if I would have had the opportunity to enjoy the class as much as I have.

– 10) Why the Snipe?

Great competition without being a professionally driven class. The friends I’ve made all over the world.

– 11) Your perfect sailing venue and your perfect sailing conditions?

I like sailing in all conditions. That’s what’s great about the class. We sail on small lakes and shifty breeze to the steady breezes of Santiago de La Ribera to San Francisco.

– 12) Besides sailing which other sport do you practice?

Triathlons, Masters swimming, Road races from 10K’s to marathons

– 13) Are you superstitious?

Not really

– 14) Your perfect holiday?

Great weather, good friends and family w/o big crowds. An active vacation with the opportunity to see new places. We have the benefit of living in the US where there are great parks from the Everglades to Glacier National Park. My wife loves cruises. My time in the Navy cured me of the need to get on a ship with a ton of people.

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