SailGP Sydney: Tom Slingsby’s Aussie crew win first event of season from Danish, New Zealand

There might only be one thing worse for an Aussie than being beaten by New Zealand and that’s being done by a man called Smurf. So Tom Slingsby had to make sure it didn’t happen.

Close, hectic racing in the SailGP Sydney.

There might only be one thing worse for an Aussie than being beaten by a New Zealand team helmed by a childhood friend and Olympic teammate and that’s being done over by a man nicknamed Smurf whose hobby is driving tractors.

So if Australian sailing great Tom Slingsby needed any additional motivation to amp things up in the finale of SailGP Sydney on a picture perfect harbour on Sunday he had it.

Incredibly, multiple world sailor of the year Slingsby and his Australian crew saved their worst start of the year for the finale, forced to fight their way back from a rare but major race error to overtake Danish skipper Nicolai Sehested, whose nickname in English is Smurf.

But Slingsby is at his best when he’s on the hunt and eventually clawed back the fast-starting Danish crew midway through the final to claim the Flying Roos first event win of the 2023/24 season in a major relief for Slingsby who admitted he had “a bit of a dummy spit’’ after breaking the start.

READ MORE IN THE WEEKEND AUSTRALIAN MAGAZINE: Meet Tom Slingsby, the Fastest Man on Water

“I was convinced that was going to be a really bad one, a bad start in the final you don’t usually come back from, but the team just sailed so well,’’ said Slingsby, who hails from the NSW Central Coast, lives on the foreshore of Sydney Harbour but is now based in Barcelona for America’s Cup racing with a US syndicate.

How sweet it is. The Aussies celebrate their win. Picture: David Gray/AFP.

“I got great information, what marks were favoured, what the other team were doing and we were able to set up differently and overtake the Danish.

“They almost got us back but we were able to hold on.

“We are so happy to win, we have been so close so many times this makes it almost sweeter.

“It’s been frustrating losing those finals races all season but I couldn’t have written better to win in Australia and in front of a home crowd.’’

The Australian team in action on Sydney harbour

The money was on the finale being a boat-on-boat battle between Slingsby and his old mate Nathan Outteridge, called up at the last minute as the replacement skipper on the New Zealand F50 for regular driver Peter Burling.

Slingsby and Outteridge’s friendship – and on-water rivalry – dates back to their days as kids growing up north of Sydney and racing each other in various boats from their pre-teens.

Manly sailor Jason Waterhouse enjoying the home win.

So close are they Outteridge was Slingsby’s groomsman and the pair were teammates at the London Olympics where both won gold medals – Slingsby in the Laser and Outteridge with Iain Jensen in the 49er skiff- in one of Australian sailing’s greatest Games performances.

But on Sunday it was Sehested and his Danish team who came closest to spoiling the Australian party on home waters.

Hectic and close racing in the SailGP series in Sydney.

Australia driver Tom Slingsby (R) celebrates victory with teammates.

The victory has extended the Australian teams overall lead in the professional sailing series over New Zealand heading into the next event in Christchurch.

Sporting light air, bigger foils and 24m wings with big jibs, the F50 catamarans were dressed for success in the lead-up racing on Sunday.

Germany, who spent the most time on their foils, were rewarded for their efforts with their first ever victory in the SailGP series in race four in a, milestone for the team who nearly capsized on Saturday.

After another poor start, the Australians were trapped at the back of the fleet early but made their way through to finish in fifth place.

“We just got into the start area and it was lighter than our practice run and we just didn’t do a good job,” Slingsby said.

In the fifth fleet race, the Australians, again on the back foot after a bad start, did what they needed to confirm their spots in the winner-take all final.

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