America’s Cup winner Glenn Ashby has sights set on SuperFoiler win
RIVALS used to joke that when multiple world champion sailor Glenn Ashby was on song he was so good he could walk on water.
Other Sports
Don't miss out on the headlines from Other Sports. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- Wright on! Mullets man Mikey Wright surfing up a storm
- WSL world surf title race: the events, favourites and how it works
- Unlucky? Not anymore. Women riding wave of success
RIVALS used to joke that when multiple world champion sailor Glenn Ashby was on song he was so good he could walk on water.
Now that’s what the Australian, who won the America’s Cup with Team New Zealand last year, is doing.
WIN OR SWIM: Mantra of top Aussies
DREAM TEAM: Is this sailing's best crew?
In between his skipper commitments with Team New Zealand — now preparing to host and defend the next America’s Cup — the Beijing Olympic silver medallist has been in Australia competing in the SuperFoiler series.
The series culminates on Sydney Harbour next week with Ashby, Olympic 49er skiff champion skipper Nathan Outteridge and a stand-in crew chasing overall victory on a radical machine which glides above the water on foils.
In sailing’s version of walking on water, this super-fast craft has the ability to foil both upwind and downwind with aerodynamic, carbon fibre blades lifting the SuperFoiler out of the water and to breakneck speeds.
NO BUTTS ABOUT IT: Changes in surfing
TOP GUN: Olivia Price targeted for series
“It has been really fun, a really big learning curve for everybody to learn how to sail them and get them round the track in one piece,” said Euroflex crewmen Ashby, a multiple A-class and Tornado world champion.
“To be honest, it’s been nice to take on something different and learn to sail a new type of boat.
“It’s a bit of it’s own beast and the faster it goes the crazier it gets.”
The finale of the five-leg series will be sailed on Sydney Harbour in the vicinity of Shark Island, from next Friday to Sunday.
Despite sustaining boat damage so serious it required two days of repairs during the last three-day regatta, Ashby and his crewmate remain in the series lead.