1 Year Later....  / Gar Wright (Student, Admirer, Friend )

It has been almost a year since I spoke at Graham's memorial service at the Merchant Marine Academy, Kings Point New York, and yet I feel compelled to write a note on his memorial website.

Graham Hall has always been, and will always be, a hero of mine.  He was the most gifted, charismatic, talented, and genuine leader/teacher/mentor that I ever knew.  I know that he touched everyone's life in the same profound way.

Thank you coach, and God bless you for everything you did for me and the many others whose lives were made better by your journey.

Smooth Sailing,

Gar

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He'll always be my coach  / Will Kramer (Navy Sailor )
Others have already said it more eloquently then I ever could but I too have so many lasting memories of Graham as a coach, leader and friend. 

The last email exchange that I had with him epitomizes what kind of a person Graham was.

My email to him:

Graham

... ______ forwarded your address to a group of us and it was very timely for me as I had just been thinking about my time on the Sailing Team.  In my memory of that time, the camaraderie and ultimate success of the group stands out among any I’ve seen thus far.  Much if that success can be traced to your vision and leadership in guiding our program from its under-achieving days to the success that we all enjoyed. 

My most vivid memory of you during this time which you probably do not remember was a day when you wanted to coach from “on the water” instead of from a whaler and climbed aboard a 420 for the afternoon.  Somehow, I ended up as your crew and the sailing and seamanship display/lesson that you gave me were a sight to behold!

While I am not an active racer at this time due to work and family commitments, I do plan to re-enter the fray at some point and am currently looking at a Star that a friend wants me to buy (or take off his hands).  Perhaps this is the one!

Anyhow, all the best!


His reply:

Dear Willy, thanks for the email. I think I remember that day, you were a great crew. Willy, some advice from your old coach: strong recommendation , if you want to get back into sailing, get a flying scott. that class has everything you need including investment value retention, which is nonexistent in a star. keep the good thoughts and prayers coming and we will beat this thing. Smooth sailing, coach


To me.. this is emblematic of  Graham's style.  With all that he was dealing with, he took the time to give me a little bit more coaching and attempt to set me on the right path.


Fair Winds and Following Seas Coach!

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Kind hearted competitor  / Nina Anderson (sailing cohort )
All the memories from college sailing and beyond. What a hero. Close

Crossing tacks in the middle of the night...  / Jere White (Shared a few weather rails )
Some 25 years after leaving Annapolis and moving on with my life and career, I look back on those days remember all the good times and good friends I had.

No one was a better friend, mentor, employer than Graham. After intecollegiate racing against his Ft. Scupper contingency for 4 years, after graduation, Graham grabbed me and we started racing 'big boats' together. We raced all over the country and even did a regatta over in Europe. In '76 he offered me a job at Navy coaching what was to become the world famous 'Blue Pigs' (it takes a big rig to move a blue pig!). Graham was responsible for giving me direction and advancing me in the international field of yacht racing. These times had a tremendous impact in forming the rest of my life and for that I thank him.

For those of us that knew him at Navy, we all know that Graham was responsible for taking a mediocre sailing team and turning it into a national powerhouse that would dominate intercollegiate sailing for years. His inovative thinking and leadership developed not only a good sailing squad, but redesigned the principles of sail training at the Academy that helped every Midshipman experience small boat handling.

After leaving Annapolis in '86, I regret that I only 'cross tacks' with Graham a couple of times. He was always going someplace at a million miles and hour, doing this, sailing that, lecuring here.... As I tried to keep up with his career, I always dismissed each missed opportunity to see him with a 'I'll catch him next time...' .

So, Graham, if it's OK with you, the next time I cross tacks in the middle of the night with another boat, that I can't quite make out the name or sail number on, I'll just think that it's you and I'll see you up at the windward mark in the morning. Close

We'll miss you caoch  / Nick Madigan (Navy Sailor & Friend )
Whitney & Morgan:

I will sadly miss your coming tribute to your Dad but I will share some exceprts from my last letter to him:

Graham:

 

 Hey coach!!  Put me in couch!!  I can do it!!

 

Greetings from the west coast on the morning of the Transpac start – I am ready to do battle but wanted to check in first and see how you are doing.   I understand you are under the weather – (understated I am sure) – and I give you best wishes to feel better!!

 

We haven’t seen each other in a while so there’s a lot to talk about! My story goes like this: (INSERT MY LIFE STORY HERE).

But I do miss seeing you over the years.  An opportune time to tell you what a lasting impression you made on me;  I don’t think I ever met anyone like you before or since!  That joie de vire, that unpretentious willingness to be happy, no matter what the circumstances!

 

Then your musical genius!  I think I saw Kaytells “hits of navy sailing" or something like that on late nite TV -  “includes all the “big ones” – A Yawl is Your Friend” and many others”!!! I really miss the steel drums – do you have them in your garage?

 

I love to tell this story about you: You may not remember the time in Chicago (IC Nats 1979?) when we all went to a “real” blues joint on the south side.  We couldn’t have looked more out of place!  I think the stage was covered in chicken wire!!  (“Mind if we dance with yo’ dates??”).  So then we walk outside and there is a cop, gun drawn, chasing some hoodlum down the street.  You, being the responsible adult, turn to us and say “come on” and take off after him to see the action!!  We get to the arrest seen just in time to see several of Chicago's finest cuffing one serious looking felon. I wonder what my mom would have thought - awesome!!

Take care coach and turn your hat one way or the other to show us the way. And put me in coach - I can do it!!

 

Nick “Maddog” Madigan

So to all - hoist a beer for me - I'll miss you.

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Some memories of mine.  / Harrison Travis, III (Brother in Law )
This website for our memories of Graham has truly opened the floodgates for me. From readying the Penguin "Queen Anne's Lace" in our garage, frostbite crewing on it and the Fireball out of Sea Cliff Yacht Club, Oh that damn trapeze!, Graham having the trust to let a 15 year old to share the driving to Clearwater/St. Pete, Florida with a Fireball in tow behind the family Volkwagen micro bus, the road trip to Washington, DC with the nagging suitcase handle, being taken on as cook and mess boy for a Regatta in Conn., the spaghetti dinner aboard the 12 meter yacht cruising LI Sound out of King's Point, to so many others. I know in my heart Graham is in a better place, and I wish him fair skies and a stiffening breeze. "H" Close

Graham Hall Friend, Teacher, Coach, and Father  / Paul Van Cleve (Friend)

Graham was a true friend and will be sorely missed.  He had a great impact of my life as well as the lives on many of my friends. Graham played an important roll in our lives and did not comprehend the influence he had.  We are better fathers, husbands, and friends for knowing him. 

Good man, great coach and sailor, fantastic father.  We are all fortunate to have had him as part of our lives.

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