2007 Bent Prop Award
Gainesville Sail and Power Squadron

Presented to Gael Simon and Magalie Laniel

Gael's Gale

On a blustery day in April, Gael and Magalie sailed Gael's J boat "Need for Speed" to a quiet cove on an island in south Georgia. Upon arrival they went into party mode and promptly forgot about the rest of the world and just enjoyed life. Gael docked his boat, walked up the dock to the adjacent island house and didn't emerge until the next morning.

Sometime during the night a gale blew in and poor Need for Speed was pummeled time and again against the dock. Seems she was up against the waves and the piling. Alas, when dawn broke Gael and Magalie's hearts were broken.

They towed poor Need for Speed to Magalie's backyard where Gale attacked with vengeance. He knew Need for Speed would only be happy on the water so he repaired the hole and in tribute, painted her red.