Conn Findlay is that rare athlete who was able to earn Medals in more than one sport – rowing and sailing.  In the summer of 1976, he was the crew for Dennis Conner in the Tempest Class racing off Kingston, Ontario.  During the last race, Conner asked Findlay if they should take a flyer with the opportunity to gain a Silver Medal, but risk losing the Bronze if the gambit failed.  Conn, from the trapeze wire, answered succinctly, “Well Dennis, I’ve got my medals.”   Conner elected to cover the competition and guarantee a Bronze Medal.  It was a typical Conn Findlay moment.

He was steady, reliable and quiet.  He also had a surprising amount of humor in his life.  During an important race during the America’s Cup defense trials aboard Courageous in 1977, Findlay softened the tense atmosphere by handing cookies up through a small deck opening to the crew.  On another practice day, he walked to the aft part of the 12 Meter and told skipper Ted Turner that they should practice a man-overboard drill.  He had a life jacket under his arm and jumped over the side.

He was popular with all the wives of the Courageous crew.  For years, he always sent a valentine card with a flower enclosed to each of the crew’s wives.  Findlay married for the first time when he was in his sixties to Luella Anderson.

He was a powerful rower at the University of Southern California where he earned a bachelor’s degree.  He later earned a Master of Business Administration at the University of California, Berkeley.   He won two Gold Medals (1956, 1964) and one Bronze Medal (1960) in double-skulls rowing at the Olympic Games. This discipline included a coxswain with the two rowers.  Findlay was tall at six foot seven inches, although he always told people he was five foot, nineteen inches tall.  Classic Conn Findlay.

Findlay sailed in three America’s Cup campaigns: 1970 aboard Heritage with Charlie Morgan, 1974 aboard Mariner with Ted Turner and aboard Courageous in 1977.  Findlay was 47 in the summer of 1977 when he and the rest of the crew defended the America’s Cup.  He was a popular crew on many offshore yachts, including Windward Passage and Kialoa.  His races included setting a record in the Miami to Jamaica Race on Windward Passage (1971), the St. Petersburg to Fort Lauderdale Race record in (1984), the Transatlantic Race aboard Kialoa (1975) and setting a record in the Sydney to Hobart Race (1975).

Hall of Fame sailor Ted Turner remembers Conn Findlay: “I can attest to the incredible talent and instincts Conn possesses which positively influences every competitive situation.”  Crew mate Richie Boyd adds, “He was the equivalent of a player-coach in his ability to teach sail handling techniques and elevate the games of the younger crew members.  Everyone on the boat benefitted from his mentoring.”

~ Gary Jobson