Tom Slingsby and Australian crew target breaking 50 knots in Sydney SailGP

He has sailed everything from a tiny Laser dingy to a 100-foot Sydney to Hobart supermaxi but when it’s comes to having a blast Tom Slingsby says there’s nothing better than his new mode of transport.

• Special motivation behind Gilmore’s piece of history
• Super-sized fleet for Sydney to Hobart
• Steph Gilmore in seven heaven

He has sailed everything from a tiny Laser dingy to a 100-foot supermaxi but when it’s comes to having a blast Tom Slingsby says there’s nothing better than his new mode of transport.

Slingsby and his all-Australian crew this week got their first taste of the modified 50-foot foiling machine they will race in the new SailGP series kicking off on Sydney Harbour in February.

JUMPING SHIP: Japan snare Aussie great

SPEED MACHINE: 100km/h on Sydney Harbour? Yes please

And the London Olympic gold medallist and America’s Cup winner has given it - along with its striking Aussie themed new livery- the thumbs up.

Tom Slingsby, centre front, and his team, after sail training on their F50 in New Zealand. Pic: Chris Cameron/SailGP

“The giant kangaroo, which we designed, and Aussie flag is cool. It’s an honour to sail with the Australian colours like this,” Slingsby said from New Zealand, where he and his team have been speed and sail testing the F50 wingsailed catamaran they will race in the six-event SailGP series.

Slingsby revealed his team hit a speed on 49.72 knots in just 16 knots of wind during the testing period and have set the goal of cracking the 50 knot barrier on Sydney Harbour in February if conditions play ball.

TRIBUTE: Layne Beachley on Steph Gilmore

ART PROJECT: Naked surfer’s ride to empowerment

While he has been involved with some of the fastest machines since jumping off the Laser post his Olympic success six years ago, Slingsby said he is still astounded at the rapid development and speed leaps in foiling craft.

“I would have been lucky to have got to 10 knots racing at the London Olympics,” said Slingsby, who won Australia’s first individual gold medal in his 14-foot Laser at the 2012 Olympics.

Tom Slingsby and the Australian crew on the F50 they will race in the SailGP kicking off in Sydney in February Pic: Chris Cameron/SailGP

On Sydney Harbour he plans to go five times faster - a feat which even surprises Slingsby.

“I remember being San Francisco (with Oracle America’s Cup team) in 2013 and it was the first time we cracked 30 knots,’’ Slingsby said.

“To think we are doing 20 knots more now, it is amazing how the sport has progressed.’’

The SailGP series features six teams from Great Britain, America, China, Japan, France and Australia with the two leading crews after four rounds vying for the winner-take-all prize purse of US$1m.

SYDNEY TO HOBART: Champion in top form

Sydney will be the first stop of the 2019 tour which then moves to San Francisco in May, New York in June, Cowes, UK, in August and then onto Marseilles, France in September.

While Sydney Harbour will be their racetrack in February, Cockatoo Island will be the team base for all six crews and their F50 catamarans.

The base will feature a free public viewing area on top of the island’s cliff and free base tours will also be offered on Cockatoo Island on selected dates from February 1, 2019, which can be booked on ​SailGP.com/Sydney​.

Spectator tickets can also be booked on www.sailgp.com.