Lindsay May

Lindsay Bruce May OAM is an Australian sailor, known for his achievements in offshore yacht racing including 3 Overall Wins & 1 Line Honours win in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race as well as holding the record for the most consecutive races sailed.^[1][2][3]

Lindsay May

Lindsay May at the start of the 2023 Rolex Fastnet Race
Personal information
Full name	Lindsay Bruce May

As an offshore sailor & navigator, May has sailed in many of the world's most regarded regattas & races including the Admirals Cup, World 8 Metre Championships, Sydney to Hobart Race, Fastnet Race,^[4] China Sea Race, Transpac Race and the Newport to Bermuda Race.

Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race

The Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race Route

In the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, May is regarded as one of the veterans of the race having won line honours and been an overall winner of the prestigious race three times. May sailed his first race in 1973 and has completed a record 50 consecutive races^[5] between 1973 & 2023.^[6] As a well regarded figure, May has written, contributed or been featured in many media articles^[7][8][9] including The New York Times.^[10][11]

In the 1993 race, May was aboard the yacht Atara^[12] that rescued sailor John Quinn^[13] who had been washed overboard and spent nearly 6 hours in the Tasman Sea.

In 2006, May skippered Simon Kurts' 1973 Sparkman & Stevens S&S 47 Love & War to victory as overall winner.^[14][15][16] This win equalled the overall record for a yacht with Love & War becoming only the second yacht to win the race three times (1974, 1978 and 2006). ^{[citation needed]}

Recognition

In May 2007, Seahorse International Yachting Magazine introduced May in to their Hall of Fame as Sailor of the Month,^[17] recognising his victory in the 2006 race.

In 2017, May was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for service to sailing, and to health and social welfare groups in the 2017 Australia Day Honours^[18][19]

Notable Races

In the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race May has achieved 3 Overall Wins on Handicap and 1 Line Honours Win.^[20][21]

Year	Title	Victory	Vessel	Position
1984	Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race	Overall Winner	Indian Pacific	Navigator
1991	Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race	Overall Winner	Atara	Navigator
1997	Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race	Line Honours	Brindabella	Navigator
2006	Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race	Overall Winner	Love & War	Skipper & Navigator

Sydney to Hobart Race - Individual Results

At the completion of the 2023 Sydney to Hobart Race May became the first sailor to compete in 50 consecutive Sydney to Hobart Races having sailed on Antipodes in his 50th race.^[22][6]

Year	Yacht	Handicap Placing	Line Honours Placing	Notes
1973	Onya of Gosford	23rd	25th
1974	Onya of Gosford	39th	53rd
1975	Dancing Mouse	13th	67th
1976	Geronimo	24th	11th
1977	Geronimo	Retired
1978	Deception	8th	8th
1979	Deception	39th	34th
1980	Adrenalin	18th	18th
1981	Once More Dear Friends	22nd	11th
1982	Once More Dear Friends	7th	31st
1983	Once More Dear Friends	2nd	30th
1984	Indian Pacific	1st	4th
1985	Another Concubine	13th	35th
1986	Szechwan	5th (IOR)	23rd
1987	Phoenix Contractors	43rd (IOR)	49th
1988	Madelines Daughter	Retired
1989	Madelines Daughter	5th (IOR)	11th
1990	Madelines Daughter	Retired
1991	Atara	1st (IOR)	11th
1992	Atara	3rd (IOR)	16th
1993	Atara	Retired
1994	Brindabella	18th (IMS)	2nd
1995	Brindabella	30th (IMS)	2nd
1996	Brindabella	Retired
1997	Brindabella	9th (IMS)	1st
1998	Brindabella	9th (IMS)	2nd
1999	Brindabella	2nd (IMS)	2nd
2000	Brindabella	Retired
2001	Brindabella	13th (IMS)	7th
2002	Brindabella	27th (IMS) 31st (IRC)	6th
2003	Love & War	12th (IMS)	41st
2004	Love & War	7th (IRC)	24th
2005	Conergy	Retired
2006	Love & War	1st (IRC)	32nd
2007	Swan Song	32nd (IRC)	35th
2008	ASM Shockwave 5	10th (IRC)	4th
2009	Love & War	24th (IRC)	71st
2010	Brindabella	Retired
2011	Strewth	30th (IRC)	16th
2012	Love & War	15th (IRC)	54th
2013	Brindabella	8th (PHS)	17th
2014	Love & War	7th (IRC)	74th
2015	Brindabella	Retired
2016	Love & War	15th (IRC)	61st
2017	Kialoa II	56th (IRC)	68th
2018	Kialoa II	38th (IRC)	35th
2019	Love & War	64th (IRC)	108th
2020	Race cancelled due to the COVID-19 Pandemic.[23]
2021	Kialoa II	Retired
2022	Kialoa II	44th (IRC)	34th	[24]
2023	Antipodes	39th (IRC)	13th	[25]

References

1. "May ready to extend Sydney-Hobart streak". 7NEWS. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
2. "May sets sights on 50 Sydney-Hobart races". SBS News. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
3. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race Statistics – 1945 – 2022" (PDF). Rolex Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
4. "Rolex Fastnet Race 2023 - Kialoa II's navigator Lindsay May explains the critical decision points". www.sail-world.com. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
5. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Historical Facts". www.rolexsydneyhobart.com. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
6. Eder, Billie (19 December 2023). "Onya, Lindsay: Meet the first sailor to compete in 50 consecutive Sydney to Hobarts". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 21 February 2024.
7. "May ready to extend Sydney-Hobart streak". The Canberra Times. 22 December 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
8. Decent, Tom (20 December 2018). "Favourable conditions set to greet Sydney to Hobart competitors". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
9. Thomas, Charlotte (19 July 2023). "Aussies chasing Fastnet glory". Ocean Magazine. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
10. Schmidt, David (23 December 2022). "The Sydney Hobart Is a Dream to Win and Formidable to Navigate". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
11. Schmidt, David (23 December 2019). "How to Race the Sydney Hobart? Break It Into Its Parts". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
12. "Lindsay May - 40 Not Out and Going for 50". rolexsydneyhobart.com. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
13. McNicol, D.D. (24 December 2012). "All's fair on Love & War as old firm reunites for Hobart". The Australian. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
14. "Love and War wins handicap honours". ABC News. 29 December 2006. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
15. "Love & War wins the 2006 Rolex Sydney Hobart". rolexsydneyhobart.com. Retrieved 19 July 2023.
16. Fisher, Bob (30 December 2006). "Love and War set for third Hobart victory". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 25 July 2023.
17. "Seahorse Sailor of the Month Hall of Fame Seahorse Magazine". mail.seahorsemagazine.com. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
18. "Australia Day 2017 Honours List" (PDF). 26 January 2017. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
19. NSW, Sport. "NSW sportspeople recognised in Australia Day Honours". www.sportnsw.com.au. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
20. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023". www.rolexsydneyhobart.com. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
21. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023". rolexsydneyhobart.com. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
22. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2022 - The Yachts - Kialoa II". rolexsydneyhobart.com. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
23. "NSW coronavirus outbreak forces first Sydney to Hobart yacht race cancellation in 76-year history". ABC News. 19 December 2020. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
24. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race - Results". rolexsydneyhobart.com. Retrieved 26 July 2023.
25. "Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race 2023". rolexsydneyhobart.com. Retrieved 21 February 2024.