SailGP Cadiz 2023: Unexpected Aussie James Spithill wins as Tom Slingsby frustrated again

There was an Aussie on the winners podium at the end of the Spanish leg of the SailGP series in Cadiz but it wasn’t the one everyone expected. So what happened?

The Australian team in training. Picture: Bob Martin/SailGP

Five finals without a win and Tom Slingsby is sick of it.

As James Spithill, who grew up on Sydney’s northern beaches just half an hour away from Slingsby, raced off with the win for the American team, the Aussie crew finished third.

It was a frustrating - but familiar - result for Slingsby and his team who went into the final day of racing full of confidence.

“I am getting quite sick of hearing ‘oh, it’s good for the overall points’ at the end of an event. I want to hear ‘well done, you guys won’. It’s frustrating,” Slingsby said.

“I understand it’s a good result but that’s five finals in a row and we haven’t won one. I want to sail better.”

That might be happening for a while for Slingsby who has pulled out if the next round in Dubai as he and his wife prepare for the birth of their son.

The Australia SailGP crew is still without a win.

There was plenty to celebrate for Spithill and his crew on the US filing catamaran after pulling off a sensational comeback from a terrible event in Taranto, Italy, where flight controller Hans Henken was rushed to hospital after being knocked unconscious, when the American F50 nose dived in the racing.

After just making it to the final off the back of an error on a rivals boat, Spithill and his team then won the final race to beat Denmark and Australia for the leg honours.

“We really want to dedicate this win to Hans. It was such a massive blow for the team in Italy and a tough moment to go through but it inspired us and gave us a real amount of purpose,’’ he said.

Despite failing to win this season, the Australian exam continue to lad overall ahead of the next event in Dubai from December 9-10.

SAILGP LEADERS BOARD AFTER FIVE EVENT

1 Australia 43 points, 2 Denmark 36 points, 3 United States 32 points, 4 Spain 32 points*, 5 Emirates GBR 32 points, 6 New Zealand 30 points**, 7 Canada 24 points, 8 France 24 points,

9 Switzerland 11 points, 10 Germany // 8 points****

The Australian SailGP team finished third in Spain.

AUSSIES CONFIDENT AFTER DAY ONE RACING IN SAILGP CADIZ

He’s spent his life winning races but now consistency is the best mate of Olympic champion, America’s Cup winner and Australian SailGP skipper Tom Slingsby - it just doesn’t always sit well.

There were times during his single-handed Laser career Slingsby was so far ahead of the pack he would win almost every race in a regatta.

In the international SailGP series it is consistency that has become Slingsby’s best - but at times annoying - best friend.

The Australian team moved into the box seat for their first win of the fourth season with yet another consistent day on the water in Spain early Sunday.

The Australians were first over the finish line of the racing in Cadiz in just one of their three races but a fifth and second in the earlier races were enough to deliver them the lead heading into the final day of racing.

It left Slingsby happy but still a little unsettled.

The fleet in the lead-up to the racing in Cadiz.

“We would love to get a win here,” Slingsby said. “It’s been quite frustrating and satisfying at the same time ... the consistency.

“I’m out the next event in Dubai, so this is my last chance to get a win on the board.

“We had a great day today and we are full of conference.”

Spain and France won the first and second races of the day with the Australians dominating the third.

“We are the top of leaderboard. We have been up there but we haven’t finished in an event yet,” said Slingsby, who is also part of the American America’s Cup campaign.

“It was a really good day, but we would love to finish it off.

“We can only do what we can do and concentrate on sailing better and try and make that final, and then execute in the podium race.’’

SAIILGP STANDINGS (after four events): 1 Australia 35 points, 2 Emirates GBR 29 points, 3 Spain 29 points, Denmark 27 points, 5 New Zealand 23 points*, 6 United States 22 points, 7 France 20 points, 8 Canada 18 points**, 9 Switzerland 10 points. 10 Germany 6 points**

*New Zealand SailGP Team granted six points for Italy Sail GP Taranto as unable to compete due to win damage suffered at France SailGP.

**Germany SailGP Team docked two