Lindsay Bruce May OAM is an Australian sailor, known for his achievements in offshore yacht racing. Those including three overall wins and one Line Honours win in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, as well as holding the record for the most consecutive races sailed.
Life As an offshore sailor and navigator, May has sailed in many notable regattas and races including the Admirals Cup, World 8 Metre Championships, Sydney to Hobart Race, Fastnet Race, China Sea Race, Transpac Race and the Newport to Bermuda Race.
Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race
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 between 1973 & 2023. As a well regarded figure, May has written, contributed or been featured in many media articles including The New York Times.
In the 1993 race, May was aboard the yacht Atara that rescued sailor John Quinn 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. 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).
Recognition In May 2007, Seahorse International Yachting Magazine introduced May in to their Hall of Fame as Sailor of the Month, 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
Notable races In the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race May has achieved 3 Overall Wins on Handicap and 1 Line Honours Win. YearTitleVictoryVesselPosition1984Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceOverall WinnerIndian PacificNavigator1991Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceOverall WinnerAtaraNavigator1997Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceLine HonoursBrindabellaNavigator2006Sydney to Hobart Yacht RaceOverall WinnerLove & WarSkipper & 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. +YearYachtHandicap PlacingLine Honours PlacingNotes1973Onya of Gosford23rd25th1974Onya of Gosford39th53rd1975Dancing Mouse13th67th1976Geronimo24th11th1977GeronimoRetired1978Deception8th8th1979Deception39th34th1980Adrenalin18th18th1981Once More Dear Friends22nd11th1982Once More Dear Friends7th31st1983Once More Dear Friends2nd30th1984Indian Pacific1st4th 1985Another Concubine13th35th1986Szechwan5th (IOR)23rd1987Phoenix Contractors43rd (IOR)49th1988Madelines DaughterRetired1989Madelines Daughter5th (IOR)11th1990Madelines DaughterRetired1991Atara1st (IOR)11th1992Atara3rd (IOR)16th1993AtaraRetired1994Brindabella18th (IMS)2nd1995Brindabella30th (IMS)2nd1996BrindabellaRetired1997Brindabella9th (IMS)1st1998Brindabella9th (IMS)2nd1999Brindabella2nd (IMS)2nd2000BrindabellaRetired2001Brindabella13th (IMS)7th2002Brindabella27th (IMS) 31st (IRC)6th2003Love & War12th (IMS)41st2004Love & War7th (IRC)24th2005ConergyRetired2006Love & War1st (IRC)32nd2007Swan Song32nd (IRC)35th2008ASM Shockwave 510th (IRC)4th2009Love & War24th (IRC)71st2010BrindabellaRetired2011Strewth30th (IRC)16th2012Love & War15th (IRC)54th2013Brindabella8th (PHS)17th2014Love & War7th (IRC)74th2015BrindabellaRetired2016Love & War15th (IRC)61st2017Kialoa II56th (IRC)68th2018Kialoa II38th (IRC)35th2019Love & War64th (IRC)108th2020Race cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.2021Kialoa IIRetired2022Kialoa II44th (IRC)34th2023Antipodes39th (IRC)13th
References