America’s Cup legend James Spithill to take helm from Tom Slingsby in SailGP series in Dubai

He grew up on stories of Australia II’s famous America’s Cup win then skippered a rival nation to victory in the same event. Now this sailing star is racing for Australia in the SailGP

The Australia SailGP taking on James Spithill and his former USA SailGP crew in the past.

He’s the sailing mad kid from Sydney’s northern beaches who grew on stories of Australia II’s famous victory for The Auld Mug and then became the only Australian to skipper an America’s Cup winner twice - but for a rival nation.

And while James Spithill did head the Young Australia campaign as a 19 year-old, his subsequent America’s Cup campaigns have been for the US and Italy.

Now Spithill, who won numerous match racing titles for Australia as a teen and the Sydney to Hobart on multiple occasions and is a race record holder, is about to wear the green and gold again - this time for Australia in the SailGP series.

“It’s so cool. I can’t wait,’’ Spithill said from Italy this week.

“It will also be awesome because they (the Australian team) have been the benchmark since the SailGP began. To be honest its been a race for second with them there.’’

Tom Slingsby and Jimmy Spithill.

Spithill, who has been racing for the US team in the series but is now about to set up and run an Italian team in SailGP, will joins the Flying Kangaroo crew for the next event of the sailing series in Dubai.

Spithill, now 44, is filling in for Australian and three time World Sailor of the Year Tom Slingsby, who he sailed with in a number of America’s Cup campaigns for the US, but will miss Dubai as he is about to become a father for the first time.

“Tom is at the very top of his game. He’s the best in the world right now and they are big shoes to fill,’’ Spithill said.

Spithill said he had tried to convince Slingsby to name his son after him as a reward for stepping into his shoes but the soon-to-be father was reluctant to commit.

“When Tom approached me I was stoked and jokingly told him my one condition, which is he needs to name his first son Jimmy,’’ Spithill said.

“It’s an honour to step in for a good mate and drive for Australia.’’

Slingsby steps back from SailGP with the Australian crew in the overall lead but still hunting for their first round win of the rick series boasting the nest sailors in the world.

But if anyone knows how to stage a comeback or defy the odds its Spithill.

Tom Slingsby is about to become a father.

Racing for the Larry Ellison Oracle team Spithill and his crew were 8-1 down in the 2013 America's Cup before winning the next eight consecutive races to win The Auld Mug.

It rates as one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history.

Sailors raced super fast, foiling F50 catamarans in the SailGP with the Dubai event to be held December 9-10.

Australia leads the series ahead of Denmark, the US, Spain, Great Britain and New Zealand.

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