SailGP Abu Dhabi: Tech issue disaster for Australian skipper Tom Slingsby, results, standings

Software - not their rivals or super tricky conditions - has seen Australia’s record of a podium finish in every SailGP event this season ended in Abu Dhabi. So what happened.

The Australia SailGP team in Abu Dhabi.

Australian skipper Tom Slingsby is relying on his intimate knowledge of Sydney Harbour delivering his team their first win of the SailGP season next month after a disastrous turn of events in Abu Dhabi.

Struggling in light winds on day one, the Australians fought back to be within striking distance of making the three-boat final when disaster struck.

Slingsby said a software error resulted in the Australian team breaking the start which saw them lose critical time returning to restart.

It also deprived them of the result they needed in the final lead-up racing to crack the final.

Racing in the foiling F50s on a small racecourse there is little room for overtaking with races so short it is also almost impossible to produce a comeback after an error.

Peter Burling’s New Zealand side went on to take the leg honours from the USA and Spain.

The victory by the Kiwis has halved the Australians or all series lead to just six points heading into the Sydney leg of SailGP.

MASS SURF RESCUE BY IRON STARS

The Australian boat racing in the SailGP. Pictures: SailGP

STANDING HEADING INTO THE SYDNEY SAILGP: Australia- 56 points, New Zealand- 50 points, USA- 43 points, Rockwool Denmark- 43 points, Spain- 42 points, Emirates GBR- 41 points, France- 38 points, Canada- 37 points, Germany- 16 points, Switzerland- 12 points

ABU DHABU DAY ONE NEWS AND RESULT WRAP

If he could Australian skipper Tom Slingsby might want to take back his challenge to the young guns of the SailGP series after a forgettable opening day in Abu Dhabi for he and his team and some surprise results by rivals.

While the series leading Australian team managed just one podium in the three races in ultralight conditions, young Spanish Olympic sailor Diego Botin put together back-to-back wins after a first race 10th.

It was a result which left the Spaniard leading the event heading into the final day and 2012 Olympic Laser gold medallist Slingsby and his team unexpectedly languishing back in the second half of the fleet in sixth place.

Just a day earlier Slingsby - almost a decade older than Botin - challenged the younger skippers of the series to make their mark after two of the oldest but most successful, James Spithill and Ben Ainslie, stepped down from the racing

“To be frankly honest, I think a lot of the younger generation haven’t stepped up to the plate as much as they could have and they’ve got to prove it,’’ Spithill said when asked about a potential changing of the guard.

INSIDE SAILGP’S BIG BUST UP

The Australia SailGP team in Abu Dhabi. Picture: Felix Diemer/SailGP.

“Jimmy and Ben are in their mid 40s and were still winning SailGP events consistently and most of the new, young generation driving in our league haven’t won an event in SailGP.’

“When you’re the next generation, you’ve got to prove why you’re the best in the world and knock us old guys off the perch.

SAILING ROLLERCOASTER TO HELL

The Australian boat racing in the SailGP. Pictures: SailGP

“The new guys have the opportunity, they’re out there and have a boat to drive in SailGP, the top sailing league in the world, and they’ve got to take that opportunity with both hands or they’ll be replaced.”

Botin appears to have taken Slingsby’s words to heart and now leads heading into day two.

In contrast the Australians battled in the ultra light winds, their Achilles heel.

The Australian recorded a 2-9-6 scorecard and need a big performance eon day two to make the three-noat final.

Slingsby and his team have yet to win a round of this season’s series but went into Abu Dhabi with an 11 point lead over heir nearest rivals on the overall pointscore.

STANDINGS AFTER DAY 1: 1 Spain 21 points, 2 New Zealand 20, 2 United States 19, 4 Canada 19, France 17, 6 Australia 16, 7 Denmark 16, 8 Great Britain 12, 9 Germany 12,

10 Switzerland 9.

Originally published as SailGP Abu Dhabi: Tech issue disaster for Australian skipper Tom Slingsby, results, standings