‘Light a fire in their a***’: Aussie SailGP champ doubles down on fiery claim about rivals

Aussie sailing champion Tom Slingsby has doubled down on his criticism of his rivals, setting up a fiery return to racing on home soil.

The pressure is on Tom Slingsby to prove he is still the top dog in world sailing after the superstar Aussie said he wasn’t being challenged by the next generation of SailGP skippers.

Australia has won the first three seasons of the sailing tour likened to F1 on water and with the Aussies on top of the leaderboard halfway through season four, Slingsby thew down the gauntlet before last month’s event in Abu Dhabi.

Slingsby is now the oldest and most accomplished skipper in SailGP following the mid-season retirements of Sir Ben Ainslie from Great Britain and Jimmy Spithill from the USA.

“To be frankly honest, I think some of the younger generation haven’t stepped up to the plate as much as they could have,” he said in the pre-event press conference.

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“They’ve got to prove it. Jimmy and Ben in their mid-forties and still winning events consistently and the new young generation, most of them haven’t won an event.

“I’m now the oldest skipper in the fleet. I guess I’m throwing down the gauntlet a little. But it’s just my honest opinion.”

Spain’s Diego Botin, France’s Quentin Delapierre and Denmark’s Nicolai Sehested have shown glimpses of brilliance but haven’t been able to consistently challenge the likes of Slingsby and New Zealand’s Peter Burling.

“I don’t see a standout in the next generation,” Slingsby said in the latest episode of the SailGP Racing on the Edge documentary.

“I really thought Diego Botin was going to be it and he started great this season and he thought, ‘OK here we go’. And the Spanish have had some really poor events since then.

“Quentin Delapierre after last season we thought, ‘Here we go, he’s got the confidence now, he’s winning events. He’s going to go on with that’. But since then he’s kind of sunk down again.

“None of these guys are taking it. If us older guys do retire, it’s anyone’s game.”

Australia’s driver Tom Slingsby threw down the gauntlet. Pictures: SailGP

Slingsby, who turns 40 later this year, might have regretted his comments after an issue with the Australian team’s software meant they were penalised for crossing the start line early in Abu Dhabi and missed their first event final of the season.

New Zealand went on to win the final and cut Australia’s championship lead to six points, but the Kiwis would have missed the final had the Aussies not had their technical issue.

“It’s a bit of karma I guess for saying I don’t think the younger generation have stepped up to the plate,” Slingsby told the SailGP Racing on the Edge documentary.

“But honestly, I stand by my words and we’ve still got a big lead in the championship.

“Second place is Peter Burling — he’s not one of the new, young guys. I stand by my words even if it might look a bit weird right now.”

Australia is chasing a SailGP four-peat. Photo: Bob MARTIN / SailGP / AFP)

Slingsby, an Olympic champion who will compete at this year’s America’s Cup, meant no ill will by his comments but simply isn’t convinced the next crop of emerging sailors can take the mantle from the golden oldies.

“I think I’m just being honest and I don’t mean any disrespect to anyone,” he said.

“I really like all of these guys, but none of them have shown me that they’re the next Ben Ainslie, the next Nathan Outteridge, Peter Burling, Tom Slingsby or Jimmy Spithill.

“None of them are showing that ‘I want to be that guy’ yet. That’s my honest opinion and I hope they don’t take it the wrong way.

“I hope it drives them because I want to face the best as well. Hopefully this might light a fire in their arse and they can come after us for that top spot.”

Great Britain's Ben Ainslie recently retired from SailGP. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

New Zealand’s Peter Burling wants to knock the Aussies off their perch. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)

Botin said Slingsby “has a point” and his rivals shouldn’t take his comments to heart.

“I think we are making quite a big thing out of what Tom said in the press conference – the young generation in general has to prove themselves,” Botin said.

“I think Tom has a point, and the new generation is super hungry and working super hard to be able to fight and belong to the top of the table in SailGP.”

New USA driver Taylor Canfield added: “I’m OK with it. He’s entitled to his opinion He’s been sailing in SailGP for a long time

Canfield joked: “But now it’s time for you to go man. You’re old.”

Sailing legend and SailGP CEO Russell Coutts believes the league will increasingly become a young athlete’s game.

“I think there is no doubt that this league will favour younger and younger athletes,” Coutts said.

“And, I think that the sport is about to change. In the future, when young sailors are able to train on the simulator and use all the learning tools to their advantage, I’ve no doubt that 20 to 25 year olds will be coming into this league and winning.

“I think it’s even possible we see an 18 year old with incredible talent coming in and winning in this league in the future. I think we will see a transition in the sport over the next five years.

“I don’t think we’ll see 45-year-old drivers in SailGP. I think those days are pretty much over now.”

Slingsby is still the top dog in SailGP. (Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images)

Australia may still be on top of the table but they are yet to win an event in season four and fresh off the disappointment of Abu Dhabi, the pressure will be on when SailGP returns to Sydney Harbour next weekend (February 24-25).

With New Zealand firing on all cylinders, the stage is set for the trans-Tasman rivalry to explode with the next two SailGP events in Sydney and Christchurch.

Burling’s crew only just missed out on glory in last year’s championship final in San Francisco and loom as the biggest threat to Australia’s hopes of a four-peat.

Watch the latest episode of the SailGP Racing On The Edge documentary on Kayo Sports.