Sail1Design, in cooperation with McLaughlin, is pleased to announce the winner of the 2019 Optimist Sailor of the Year: Gil Hackel!This year we had some excellent nominations, making it a challenge to determine a clear winner. Remember we only choose from nominated sailors!
Here’s a bit from his nomination letter:
WHAT GIL WINS
Thanks to McLaughlin, Gil will get 3 great awards in addition to the honor of winning:
1. A beautiful, framed & engraved painting to keep forever.
2. What’s more, and in keeping with the philosophy of both Sail1Design & McLaughlin, Gil will have the opportunity to give “the gift of giving”, or give back to sailing, and choose, on his own, an “up-and-coming” Optimist sailor to receive a FREE charter of a McLaughlin Optimist at a major US Optimist event on McLaughlin’s schedule! Sail1Design will help work out details of when and where this great gift is made.
3. Finally, Gil will ALSO receive his own free charter at a major event as well!
Congratulations Gil!!
Winners
2019 – Gil Hackel
2018 – Tommy Sitzmann
2017 – Stephan Baker
2016 – Justin Callahan
2015 – Luke Arnone