"Obviously a bumpy ride means no sleep and it might induce a bit of sea sickness but it's all part of the deal when you sign up to do Hobart," she said. "I was prepared for that and it might make it more exciting."
May finished school last year and it was her mother's idea for her teenage daughter to take 2014 off to focus on sailing before starting physiotherapy studies.
"I think she regrets it," May said. "I'm sure she's excited deep down but, at this time, she's a bit nervous."
Organisers are delighted that more and more women are taking part in the Sydney to Hobart every year.
Sibby Ilfhozer will skipper Dare Devil and says women have nothing to be scared of on the 628-nautical mile (1170km) journey.
"A lot of women don't know what's possible," said Ilfhozer, who spends most of her year living out of a caravan travelling around Australia teaching emergency services.
"If you're committed, it's all achievable. I've always owned part of a boat and, this time around, it's my own wholly and solely and that's from sheer determination, wanting to do that."
Chelsea Hall, who dreams of contesting the Volvo Ocean Race around the world, has put her Olympic ambitions on hold to sail on Optimus Prime.
Hall spent 16 days delivering the 49-footer from Perth, so her trek down Bass Strait should be a snack.
Wendy Tuck will skipper Last Tango in her eighth Sydney to Hobart and offered this advice to her less-experienced peers: "Get caught up in the first day because it is exciting and that first finish is amazing, but when it's your off-watch, go on off-watch," Tuck said.
"If you're getting told to go down and have a sleep, do it because you never know when you're going to be able to sleep next.
"So eat when you can, drink when you can, sleep when you can and just stay warm because, once you get cold, it's hard to get warm again," said Tuck.
- AAP
