Andrew May has been sailing for longer than he can remember. Growing up in a yachting family in Diamond Harbour in the Lyttleton, Andrew began sailing in Optimists and P’s then moving into two handed classes. He won the Phoenix class National Championships the year before a car accident at the age of 17 that left him as a paraplegic. This is when Para sailing became much more than just a sport to Andrew, more of a lifeline. Andrew readily admits he does not know where he would be now without having Para sailing to turn to.
Andrew has now sailed in three Paralympic Games: Atlanta 1996 in the Sonar and then Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games in the single-handed 2.4mR (where he achieved 6th place in both events) and Rio 2016 in the 3-person keelboat or Sonar. Andrew along with this crew mates
Richard Dodson a former Team NZ strategist and Chris Sharp placed 4th, missing the bronze medal by the narrowest of margins. The crew were part of the New Zealand Paralympic Team that won a stunning 21 medals across 12 individual medallists in 2016 (9 gold, 5 silver and 7 bronze). The Team finished first in the world per capita and 13th in the world overall (previous best: 16th).
Andrew finds Para sailing gives him a release from his wheelchair, an ability to go anywhere he wants to go.
