Stuart McNay, 42, is an American sailor, who specialized in the two-person dinghy (470) class. In 2008 and 2012, he competed with partner Graham Biehl twice, and in 2016 and 2020, he represented the United States twice with partner Dave Hughes. He’s also qualified for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.
Stuart McNay Qualified for Paris Olympics 2024
Two former Yale University sailors, Ian Barrows from the class of 2017 and Stuart McNay from the class of 2005, have successfully earned spots to represent the United States at the upcoming 2024 Paris Olympics. The U.S. Olympic Sailing Team Trials took place from January 6-13, in Miami, where favorable sunny conditions allowed Barrows to achieve the feat of qualifying for Team USA.
Previously, McNay has competed for Team USA at the Beijing and Tokyo Olympics. His most recent Olympic appearance in Tokyo 2020 saw him contribute to the team’s ninth-place overall finish in the 470 men’s race. When not actively training for the Olympics, McNay has served as an assistant sailing coach at his alma mater, Yale University, during the fall semesters of 2005 and 2009, as well as the spring semester of 2006.
Both McNay and Barrows will proudly represent the United States at the Paris Olympics, scheduled from July 26 to August 11, 2024. Their goal is to bring home the coveted gold medal from the most prestigious stage in international sports.
McNay, a two-time All-American sailor during his collegiate years, was also named the 2002-03 NEISA Sportsman of the Year and a finalist for the 2004-05 College Sailor of the Year award. Despite his extensive experience as an Olympics veteran, these recent qualifiers have paved the way for McNay to participate in his fifth consecutive Olympic Games.
Stuart McNay’s Early Life
Stuart McNay was born on August 1, 1981, in Boston, Massachusetts. His hometown is Newton, a city located in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. He learned to race sailboats at the Beverly Yacht Club in Marion, Massachusetts.
McNay stands at a height of 1.70 meters (5 feet 7 inches) and weighs 65 kilograms (143 pounds).McNay competes in the Men’s 470 class of sailing, where he serves as the Skipper (captain) of the boat.
McNay’s parents are Joe McNay and Beth Pfeiffer. He has two brothers named Andrew and Colin, and three sisters named Alice, Joanna, and Kate. His hobbies and interests include playing soccer, basketball, and reading books.
McNay’s sailing clubs are the Beverly Yacht Club and the New York Yacht Club. Over the years, he has been coached by Jay Kehoe, Zack Leonard, Nigel Cochrane, Morgan Reeser, and Luther Carpenter.
During his collegiate years at Yale University, McNay was a multiple-time All-American sailor and a member of the Bulldogs’ sailing team. He graduated from Yale in 2005. Before attending Yale, McNay attended The Roxbury Latin School for his high school education.
Stuart McNay married life with his wife Tanya
Stuart McNay is married to a woman named Tanya in September 2014. Together, they have two children, a daughter named Lexi and a son named Sammy. The McNay family resides in Providence.
Tanya and their two children play a crucial role in Stuart’s life, particularly during the difficult times brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic situation allowed Stuart to spend more quality time with his wife and kids while continuing his training regimen.
The support and presence of Tanya and their children have been invaluable to Stuart, providing him with a strong family foundation as he navigates the demanding world of competitive sailing.
Stuart McNay’s Early Begining of Sailing Career
He began sailing in Optimist dinghies (small single-handed sailing boats) when he was 11 years old and continued to sail every summer from that point onward.
Stuart McNay has been racing for the US Sailing Team since 2003. At the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, McNay and his partner Biehl finished thirteenth, narrowly edging out the Israeli team of Gideon Kliger and Udi Gal.
In 2009, McNay secured impressive results, including a fifth-place finish in the Men’s 470 class at the Princesa Sofia event in Palma, Spain (ISAF Sailing World Cup). He also claimed second place in the Men’s 470 class at the US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR in Miami, Florida (ISAF Sailing World Cup), and another second-place finish in the Men’s 470 class at the Sail Melbourne event in Melbourne, Australia (ISAF Sailing World Cup).
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The following year, in 2010, McNay continued his strong performances, securing second place in the Men’s 470 class at the Sail Melbourne event in Australia (ISAF Sailing World Cup) and fifth place in the Men’s 470 class at the US SAILING’s Rolex Miami OCR in Florida (ISAF Sailing World Cup).
In 2011, McNay achieved a remarkable first-place finish in the Men’s 470 class at the Sail Melbourne event in Australia (ISAF Sailing World Cup). He also secured an eleventh-place finish in the Men’s 470 class at the Weymouth & Perth International Regatta in Weymouth, United Kingdom (London 2012 Olympic Test Event), and a fourteenth-place result in the Men’s 470 class at the French Olympic Sailing Week in Hyeres, France (ISAF Sailing World Cup).
Stuart McNay World Championships and Olympics Starts
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, McNay competed for the second time as a helmsman in the men’s 470 class. He finished thirteenth and received a berth from the ISAF World Championships in Perth, Western Australia. Teaming up again with Biehl, they secured a fourteenth-place finish in a fleet of twenty-seven boats.
As of September 2014, the McNay/Biehl duo was ranked sixth in the world for the two-person dinghy class by the International Sailing Federation, following their successes at the North American Championships and the ISAF Sailing World Cup Series in Miami, Florida, United States. At the 2014 ISAF Sailing World Championships, McNay and his new partner, David Hughes, set a personal best career record with a fifth-place finish in the men’s 470 class, securing their spot on the U.S. sailing team for the Olympics.
In 2016, Stuart McNay qualified for the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, competing as a third-time Olympian in the 470 Class sailing event alongside his crew member Dave Hughes. Their qualification for the Olympics was secured with a bronze medal finish at the 470 Class European Championship held in Spain.
The year 2017 brought McNay his top finishes and honors in the sailing world. Notably, he secured a second-place finish in the 470 class at the 2018 Aarhus Sailing World Championship Test Event in Aarhus, Denmark. Additionally, McNay’s consistent performance and dedication to the sport led him to be part of the top-ranked U.S. men’s 470 team every year from 2008 to 2021, showcasing his enduring excellence in competitive sailing.
In 2020, McNay was on the campaign trail for his fifth Olympic Games, with his sights set on Paris 2024 alongside teammate Lara Dallman-Weiss. McNay and his teammate competed in the Men’s 470 event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, finishing ninth overall.
Recent Years of Stuart
The following year, in 2021, Stuart McNay secured a notable fifth-place finish at the World Championship. Additionally, he continued to demonstrate his exceptional sailing prowess, being a part of the top-ranked U.S. men’s 470 team every year from 2008 to 2021.
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In 2024, Stuart McNay and Lara Dallman-Weiss secured their country’s qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympics at the 470 World Championship in Palma De Mallorca, Spain, after winning the U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Sailing. This will mark McNay’s fifth Olympic Games and Dallman-Weiss’s second. They have demonstrated their commitment to representing the United States at the Paris 2024 Olympics and are focused on intensive training ahead of the Games.
Additionally, McNay’s sailing achievements include being a three-time U.S. national champion and a two-time sailing All-American at Yale University.
