‘We’ve upped our game’: Australia win SailGP Auckland in statement victory

Australia have claimed a stirring SailGP victory that could prove to be a turning point after a run of bad luck for the champion team.

Australia have claimed a statement win at the SailGP event in New Zealand on Sunday, cementing their status as one of the teams to beat in season five.

Frustrated by just missing the final in the season opener in Dubai, Australian team driver Tom Slingsby and his team were on a mission to make amends in Auckland Harbour.

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Australia had a 5-1-2-2 record in the four fleet races on Saturday and were performing well on Sunday before they pulled out of the last race before the final over fears their steering system was broken.

“We had something happen with our steering system, had a failure at some point,’’ said flight controller Jason Waterhouse after the win.

“We decided to pull out because we had already made the final and access the situation.

“We never found out what it was, the steering cables went loose and felt different, but it did hinder us.”

The Aussies were plagued by technical issues in the back end of season four, but they were given the all clear and nailed the start in the final, flying part Spain and Great Britain at 90km/h to reach Mark 1.

Spain nearly reeled in Australia in the closing stages, but Slingsby’s crew held on for victory — their first since last season’s San Francisco event before they were pipped by Spain in the grand final.

“This win means so much to us – the team set us up so well,” Slingsby said.

“We had an amazing last race. It felt like we were fighting the British on the first leg, then the Spanish caught us on the final, upwind leg. They had chosen to sort of concede and take a second, but they went for it and went for the win and managed to just get around them.”

Team Australia celebrate winning Sail GP Auckland. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Australia’s collection of steering wheel trophies is growing, and Slingsby told his teammates they would be one of the teams to beat this season.

“Mate, you’re a huge addition to our team,” Slingsby told new wing trimmer Chris Draper, who has replaced Kyle Langford who has joined the Italian team.

“I honestly feel we’ve upped our game in all areas. We’re going to go through highs and lows in this season, but I’m 100 per cent certain we’re at a higher level than we’ve ever been.

“We’re going to be real hard to beat this year.”

The Aussies celebrate taking out the event final in Auckland. (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

A strong breeze, with gusts up to 35km/h made for tricky conditions on Waitematā Harbor.

All teams battled the conditions going into what Slingsby described as “survival mode” to get through the course with several near collisions and crashes seen throughout the day.

Slingsby added “Honestly, we had so many (nervy) moments out there. We’re an experienced team and we’ve got a pretty tight-knit unit, but we had a few issues.

“My hat’s off to the new and inexperienced teams in those conditions because that was some of the hardest sailing I’ve ever done on that short track with those puffs and gusts.”

Australia withstood a late challenge from Spain in the podium final. Photo: Felix Diemer for SailGP.

Australia’s fierce rivals New Zealand had a disappointing event by their standards, finishing in fourth place.

Led by three-time America’s Cup winner Peter Burling, the Kiwis won five events in season four but are still chasing their first SailGP championship.

“It is extremely hard to beat the Kiwis in any sport, let alone in their own country,’’ Slingsby said.

“Coming to their home town and beating them is very hard to do and we are stoked with the way we sailed. We sailed our best this weekend and out best is good enough to beat anyone I feel.’’

The victory sees Australia move up to third on the leaderboard on 16 points, level with Spain and one point behind Great Britain and New Zealand.

SailGP continues in Sydney on February 8-9. Tickets for the event on Sydney Harbour are available here.

Originally published as ‘We’ve upped our game’: Australia win SailGP Auckland in statement victory