Lindsay Might has but to notch his fiftieth consecutive Sydney to Hobart yacht race however he is already excited about his 51st.
Key factors:
- Lindsay Might’s first Sydney to Hobart yacht race got here in 1973
- He received handicap honours on Love & Conflict in 2006
- Might stated the spotlight of his profession was rescuing fellow competitor John Quinn from the water in 1993
With three general titles and one line-honours win to his title, Might will subsequent week develop into the primary sailor within the race’s 78-year historical past to attain the half-century milestone, when he navigates Antipodes from Sydney Harbour to Hobart’s Structure Dock.
His storied crusing profession started in 1973, when the then 24-year-old Might stepped off his surfboard and onto a yacht.
“I by no means thought I might get to 50 and I had no thought what I used to be in for,” Might stated.
“I had achieved little or no racing. Then I went crusing right here on the harbour with a mate of mine who was within the navy and I used to be simply hooked.
“I obtained invited to go on a ship to New Zealand — the three older guys needed some youthful guys to do all of the work.
“Then the fella stated, ‘Hey, you probably did an amazing job. I’ll get you a experience to Hobart’.
“He obtained me on a ship, Onya of Gosford, in 1973 and I’ve by no means identified the rest on Boxing Day.”
In a six-page yearly up to date doc titled How one can Get to Hobart — ASAP, Might condenses his years on the ocean into an inventory of hard-earned and well-learned ideas for taking over the journey south.
Amongst his ideas, Might suggests sailors use child powder to assist dry perspiration moisture, have an inventory of the crew’s most well-liked scorching drinks within the galley and all the time have one hand on the boat — particularly when dressing.
“I have been scared on a few events,” he stated.
“I do bear in mind 1984 was a really, very unhealthy race. I got here up on deck and I used to be there with my arms hooked via the fence and we slid sideways down this extremely steep wave.
“We did not put on harnesses in these days. We simply needed to tie a bit of rope round our waist and have a clip onto the boat.
“I believed, ‘The one factor that is going to occur on the backside right here is we will flip turtle’, and I wasn’t even clipped on at that stage.
“Then the boat, up it got here and away we went once more.
“We received that race on handicap.”
In 2006, Might and his crew surprised the crusing world when he took out handicap honours because the skipper and navigator of the 33-year-old wood vessel Love & Conflict.
However the veteran sailor confesses the spotlight of his 49 begins is as an alternative a race he didn’t end.
In 1993, when solely 38 out of 104 starters completed, Might plucked fellow competitor John Quinn out of the Tasman Sea.
Quinn had been washed overboard and spent almost six hours within the water.
Requested whether or not with 50 on the board he could be comfortable to shut the chapter on his ocean adventures, Might remained pragmatic.
“I might prefer to assume (I might make) 51 races, however I’ve obtained to have a ship to sail off. I do not personal a ship,” he stated.
“In the event you do a very good job, folks say to you, ‘Would you wish to come alongside subsequent yr?’
“That is simply what’s occurred yr after yr after yr.”
ABC Sport will reside weblog the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day.
AAP
