Sydney SailGP sailors chase 100km/h mark, Tom Slingsby chasing win on home waters

There were crashes, concussions and carnage at the last event but Aussie SailGP skipper Tom Slingsby is tipping a wild speed chase and an old rivalry reigniting on his home waters this weekend.

The Spain SailGP team on the edge in the New Zealand SailGP event in Auckland. Picture: Felix Diemer/SailGP.

There were crashes, capsizes and concussions at the last event but Aussie SailGP skipper Tom Slingsby is tipping a wet and wild speed chase and an old rivalry reigniting on his home waters this weekend.

While the multiple world sailor of the year, Olympic champion and America’s Cup winner is keen to be one of the first to break the 100km/h barrier in SailGP racing, he has a different No. 1 priority in the Australian leg of the international sailing series.

“We just want to win at home. It’s important to us,’’ said the Central Coast coast sailor, now based overseas most of the year, who has led the Australia crew team to overall victory in three of the four past series.

“For sure being able to go faster than you’ve ever been on a sailing boat is a high adrenaline rush and we really enjoy it but when racing it’s not a focus.

“We would prefer to win a race and have the slowest speed.’’

Slingsby has identified traditional rivals, the Peter Burling lead Black Foils, as the team to beat in Sydney after the Australians stole the New Zealanders thunder in the Auckland event last month.

The Spainish SailGP team on the edge in New Zealand. Picture: Felix Diemer/SailGP.

“They will be fired up for this,’’ Slingsby said.

“They will want payback on us after we won. They have the chance to turn it back on us here.’

“But I feel our biggest advantage here is our home court. We have had success here multiple times and we just have to rely on our experience and run off the confidence from the New Zealand event.’’

The Australians skipper believes forecast conditions are on the edge for the 100km/h mark to be lowered on the Sydney Harbour speedway with the foiling F50’s raced now significantly faster than before due to new T-foils raced with at the last event in Auckland.

The racing was fast, ferocious and close at the last event won by the Australians. Picture: Bob Martin/SailGP.

The titanium T-foils increase the flight speed and upwind performance of the giant catamarans being raced above water while reducing sideway movement.

At the Auckland event, won by Slingsby and his team, there were spectacular crashes and nosedives with two sailors suffering concussions as skippers tried to wrangle the new foils which give little warning of impending disaster.

The most serious injury was to Canadian flight controller Billy Gooderham who was taken to hospital with his injuries.

In contrast the Australians, who hit 94.9km/h in the racing and had the best flight times of the fleet, adapted to the intricacies of the new technology faster than rivals which delivered them success.

The Australia SailGP crew celebrating their win in New Zealand where they clearly outsailed their rivals. Picture: Brett Phibbs/SailGP.

Other crews, however, struggled to master the technology as quickly.

“They don’t give you much notice before a nosedive,’’ Slingsby said.

“We are all learning the limitations of these foils. With the old boats you kind of had more warning.

“With these it’s easier to crash off the foils.’’

Slingsby has tipped the Sydney event to be fought out between the Australian, New Zealanders, Spain and Great Britain.

TOP SPEEDS OF TEAMS AT AUCKLAND SAILGP

ESP: 96 km/h

ITA: 95 km/h

AUS: 94.9 km/h

DEN: 94.3 km/h

NZL: 90.9 km/h

GER: 89.8 km/h

GBR: 89.4 km/h

SUI: 89.2 km/h

USA: 84.8km/h

BRA: 87.7 km/h

CAN: 80.7 km/h

AUSTRALIAN SAILGP TEAM: Driver: Tom Slingsby, Wing Trimmer: Chris Draper, Flight controller: Jason Waterhouse, Grinder: Sam Newton, Grinder: Kinley Fowler, Strategist: Tash Bryant, Coach: Ben Durham

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Originally published as Sydney SailGP sailors chase 100km/h mark, Tom Slingsby chasing win on home waters