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Lindsay Could has but to notch his fiftieth consecutive Sydney to Hobart yacht race however he is already excited about his 51st.
Key factors:
Lindsay Could’s first Sydney to Hobart yacht race got here in 1973He received handicap honours on Love & Conflict in 2006Could mentioned the spotlight of his profession was rescuing fellow competitor John Quinn from the water in 1993
With three total titles and one line-honours win to his identify, Could will subsequent week change into the primary sailor within the race’s 78-year historical past to realize 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 Could stepped off his surfboard and onto a yacht.
“I by no means thought I’d get to 50 and I had no thought what I used to be in for,” Could mentioned.
“I had performed 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 received 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 mentioned, ‘Hey, you probably did an ideal job. I’ll get you a trip to Hobart’.
“He received 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 The right way to Get to Hobart — ASAP, Could condenses his years on the ocean into an inventory of hard-earned and well-learned suggestions for taking over the journey south.
Amongst his suggestions, Could 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 mentioned.
“I do bear 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 by means of 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 chunk 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, Could and his crew shocked the crusing world when he took out handicap honours because the skipper and navigator of the 33-year-old picket 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, Could 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 comfortable to shut the chapter on his ocean adventures, Could remained pragmatic.
“I would prefer to assume (I may make) 51 races, however I’ve received to have a ship to sail off. I do not personal a ship,” he mentioned.
“Should you do a great job, individuals say to you, ‘Would you need to come alongside subsequent yr?’
“That is simply what’s occurred yr after yr after yr.”
ABC Sport will stay weblog the 2023 Sydney to Hobart yacht race on Boxing Day.
AAP
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