Lindsay Might has but to notch his fiftieth consecutive Sydney to Hobart yacht race however he is already enthusiastic about his 51st.Key factors:Lindsay Might's first Sydney to Hobart yacht race got here in 1973He received handicap honours on Love & Battle in 2006Might stated the spotlight of his profession was rescuing fellow competitor John Quinn …
Lindsay Might has but to notch his fiftieth consecutive Sydney to Hobart yacht race however he is already enthusiastic about his 51st.
With three general titles and one line-honours win to his identify, Might will subsequent week change 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’d get to 50 and I had no concept what I used to be in for,” Might stated.
“I had executed 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 wished some youthful guys to do all of the work.
“Then the fella stated, ‘Hey, you probably did an excellent job. I’ll get you a trip to Hobart’.
“He obtained me on a ship, Onya of Gosford, in 1973 and I’ve by no means identified anything on Boxing Day.”
In a six-page yearly up to date doc titled The way to Get to Hobart — ASAP, Might condenses his years on the ocean into a listing 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 a listing of the crew’s most well-liked sizzling 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 keep in mind 1984 was a really, very dangerous 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’ll 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 & Battle.
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 practically six hours within the water.
Requested whether or not with 50 on the board he could be blissful to shut the chapter on his ocean adventures, Might remained pragmatic.
“I would wish 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.
“If you happen to do a very good job, individuals 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
Keep in touch with our news & offers
