Ky Hurst, Jason Waterhouse share in massive payday after winning SailGP title in France
Olympic sailor Jason Waterhouse and former ironman Ky Hurst have claimed a slice of sailing history - and a massive payday - in France.
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Northern beaches sailors Jason Waterhouse and Ky Hurst have struck it rich as part of the Australian team which early Monday won the inaugural SailGP crown - and a $1.47m winners prize.
The Australian sailing duo held their nerve in a winner-take-all match race in foiling catamarans against Team Japan, lead by former Australian Olympic champion Nathan Outteridge.
But it was the Tom Slingsby skippered Australians who won the day and one of the biggest prize cheque’s in sailing in the series finale in Marseille, France.
Sailors and shore crew will all share in the prizemoney.
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“We are going to split the money among the team. It’s a huge effort from everyone and I can say with confidence that we wouldn’t have been standing on that podium today without the support of our shore crew and other team members,” Slingsby said.
Hurst, from Newport, and Waterhouse, from Balgowlah, were part of the five-man crew which won three of the five events on the new SailGP series which started on Sydney Harbour in February.
Interestingly Waterhouse and his cousin Lisa Darmanin are battling Outteridge and his sister Hayley to represent Australia at next year’s Tokyo Olympics in the foiling Nacra 17.
Skipper Slingsby said he had never experienced anything like winning the SailGP title.
“My hands were shaking on the wheel as we approached the finish line,” he said.
“I have sailed into the finish line in the Olympics and the Americas Cup and I can tell you I have never had that reaction before.
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“It just shows how much the moment meant to me and to win the SailGP championship with this team.”
Sydney has already been confirmed to host the opening leg of the 2020 SailGP seems.