America’s Cup gun Kyle Langford wings his way into Aussie colours for SailGP in Sydney

The last time Kyle Langford won a major regatta in Australian colours he was a 15-year-old dreaming of one day sailing in major events like the America’s Cup and Volvo round the world race.

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The last time Kyle Langford won a major regatta in Australian colours he was a skinny 15-year-old dreaming of one day sailing in major events like the America’s Cup and Volvo round the world race.

Now 13 years on, Langford has ticked both these boxes - in the case of the America’s Cup twice — and is one of the most respected and talented sailors in the world.

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Now a lean but strong 90 kilos, Langford is a gun for hire, a sailor travels the world racing for some of the biggest and best teams - including the Oracle US outfit in the 2013 and 2017 America’s Cups, the Dutch Brunel crew in the most recent Volvo round the world race and Muscat and Oman tin the Extreme Sailing series.

Kyle Langford, third from left, is a crucial part of the Australian exam chasing victory in the SailGP opener.

But missing from the impressive CV of the now 29-year-old former world Hobie 16 youth champion was competing for Australia in a major event as an adult - another box that will be ticked when he heads onto Sydney Harbour on Friday for the opening racing of the new SailGP series.

“It’s the first time since I was 15 and sailing at the youth worlds,’’ said Langford, who now bases himself in Europe for most of the year for job opportunities.

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“In professional sailing it’s not unusual to compete for different countries but it is nice to be competing for Australia.

“I think its great the SailGP is based round national teams.

“If you don’t go down the Olympic path this is the closest I get to that.’’

Kyle Langford won a world youth title for Australia as a teenager.

Langford is a key part of Team Australia, headed by London Olympic gold medallist and multiple world Laser champion Tom Slingsby who he raced with at the America’s Cup.

Langford is the wing trimmer - a job which sees him responsible for the speed of the F50 - a foiling craft capable of speeds in excess of 50 knots - via controls, a joy stick and buttons.

With his hands full, he also has foot buttons to adjust jib sheets and daggerboard.

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“I control the flying shape of the wing,’’ said Langford whose job resembled that of a pilot constantly changing an aeroplanes flaps.

“Because the wind and direction is constantly changing it means constant adjustment.’’

The Australian team training on Sydney Harbour for the event. Pic: Dylan Robinson

Australia and France, in the background, are two for six teams in the series.

Langford’s teammates for the two-day SailGP opener in Sydney on Friday and Saturday include Olympic silver medallist Jason Waterhouse who is the flight controller and grinders Sam Newton and Ky Hurst.

For the first season a 100 per cent nationality rule applies to the Australian, French, US and British teams on the circuit backed by American billionaire Larry Ellison and run by America’s Cup legend Russell Coutts.

China and Japan are required to have 40 percent of the crew from their home nation, a figure which will increase by 20 percent each year until they are fully national.

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SYDNEY RACE SCHEDULE

Friday: Racing from 4-6pm comprising three fleet races where all six nations compete in each race. An exclusion zone is operational between 3-6pm,

Saturday: Racing from 3- 5pm comprising three fleet races where all six nations compete in each race. An exclusion zone is operational between 2-5pm.

TV: Fox Sports will carry live coverage in Australia

THE RACE COURSE

Thes courses raced will include reaching starts with boundaries in place to keep sailors inside a specified area and in-booth umpiring to govern the racing.

2019 SAILGP CIRCUIT

Sydney, Australia (February 15-16)

San Francisco, USA (May 4-5)

New York, USA (June 21-22)

Cowes, UK (August 10-11)

Marseilles, France (September 20-22