SailGP Sydney: Aussie Tom Slingsby, Danish team in pole for win, day one results, drama

He’s known for his famous “red mist’’ temper but it was Tom Slingsby’s cool head in trying conditions which delivered Australia crucial success a dramatic opening day of SailGP Sydney. VIDEO

The German SailGP team cam close to a capsize. Picture: Felix Diemer/SailGP.

Maybe it was the relief of being on the water and away from the controversy off it he continues to stir about the generation next of sailing needing to step up to be beat its veterans.

Or perhaps it was just because Australian sailing great Tom Slingsby was back in his happy place – racing at high speed on an unusually empty Sydney Harbour where he lets his rare talent and results do the talking.

Whichever – or perhaps a combination of the two – Slingsby and his skilled Australian crew showed the best in the world just how to navigate the eccentricities of Sydney Harbour in a challenging southerly when it mattered most to move into pole position for his first SailGP win this season.

On a racetrack full of obstacles, hidden dangers, wind holes and funnels, the Australians and the Danish team headed by Nicolai Sehested grabbed a share of the lead over their eight rivals on identical foiling F50 catamarans heading into the second and final day of the SailGP Sydney on Sunday.

There were close calls, a near capsize by the Germans and technical issues which sidelined the Canadian boat, infuriating its skipper Phil Robertson who has lost vital points, said there is no redress for his team and is unsure whether he will even be able to race Sunday.

“I’m actually pretty furious,’’ he said.

Happier was Slingsby, who racked up a first, second and fourth despite two bad starts ahead of the final two fleet races and then three-boat final on Sunday afternoon.

The Australians and Danes now lead the event overall from the New Zealand team headed up for this event by Australian Nathan Outteridge won the third race of the day.

The Australian team share the lead after day one with the Danes.

“We are in a good position heading into day two but we need to improve our starts,’’ Slingsby said.

“We showed in these tough conditions we can sail through the fleet.

“A couple of time there we were back in eighth and ninth and managed to get through for a good result.

“But we need to come off the line in that top four and work from there.’'

Germany SailGP Team, helmed by Erik Heil, come close to a capsize

Slingsby and his team stamped their authority in the first race by taking an early lead in gusty, shifty conditions, at times doing almost double the speed of their rivals for one of the most emphatic victories this season.

The Danish team claimed second with Slingsby’s great mate, Nathan Outteridge, driving the New Zealand team into third place.

“It’s incredibly tricky,” Outteridge said between races.

“It’s a challenging day.”

Slingsby then recovered from a poor start to wend his way back through the fleet to finish second to Spanish skipper Diego Botin in race two.

Race three, minus Canada with a mechanical issue, was won by the New Zealand team with Australia fourth after being bested again at the start.