SailGP Japan skipper Nathan Outteridge beats James Spithill, Moth world champ Tom Slingsby

They were teammates for years in the Olympic arena. But in the SailGP arena these rival stars are out to beat each other up.

Nathan Outteridge has skippered Team Japan into the lead on the SailGP circuit.

Last week Nathan Outteridge was racing foiling Moths on Lake Garda. This week he is in St Tropez beating a man who is sailing’s newest world champion - and a fellow Central Coaster.

Nathan Outteridge has taken the lead off his old Olympic teammate Tom Slingsby in the race for the SailGP crown in 2021 on the super-fast F50 foiling catamarans.

The light wind specialist made the most of these conditions to steer Team Japan to victory in the professional sailing series in France and leapfrog Slingsby and his Australian team on the overall rankings.

Nathan Outteridge helming his team to victory in France.

It was a different story less than a week ago when Slingsby was untouchable as he won his second world Moth foiling championship in Italy and Outteridge finished eighth.

“We are very happy to be leading overall now,” said Outteridge, the London Olympic gold medallist in the 49er skiff.

“I think we’ve had a bit of an up and down season so far but that’s two podium finishes for us now and a couple of points lead overall.

“We really want to finish off the European season in a strong position so I guess the goal again is to be in the top three at the next event in Cadiz, Spain and it gives us a good chance to go home and get ready for the remainder of the season.”

Big celebrations followed the win for the Central Cost skipper who honed his sailing skills at Wangi Wangi.

In France, Outteridge beat two-time America’s Cup skipper and Team US helmsman James Spithill from Sydney’s northern beaches, for the leg honours.

“It was a great race and a great event for our team,’’ Spithill said.

“It was dynamic, lots of minefields on the racecourse and we have to give credit to Japan for sailing a good race.’’

Slingsby and the Australian team had gear issues to finish eighth in France and fall to third overall on the series pointscore behind Outteridge and Spithill.

TOM SLINGSBY, IAIN JENSEN GO ONE-TWO AT MOTH WORLDS

Central Coast sailors have finished 1-2 on the podium at the world Moth foiling championships on Lake Garda.

London Olympic Laser gold medallist Tom Slingsby won his second world Moth crown while London Olympic 49er champion Iain Jensen finished second at the regatta in Italy.

In an extraordinary performance, Slingsby, representing the Gosford Sailing Club, won all but one of his 11 races - finishing second in race seven in his only blemish.

Jensen, from the Wangi Sailing Club, finished ahead of British sailor Paul Goodison with Newcastle’s Kyle Langford in fourth.

MOTH FOILING ATTRACTS WORLD’S BEST

It’s the high-speed racing craft many believe should be at the Olympics to add a younger, funkier feel to the sailing program.

And if it ever made it in, Australia would be a shoe-in for medals if results at the current world Moth championships are an indication.

Central Coast sailors Tom Slingsby and Iain Jensen - teammates in the London Olympic team where both won gold medals - are placed first and second after the three days of racing in Italy.

Tom Slingsby sailing into the lea at the Moth world championships on Garda. Pic: Martina Orsini.

And right behind them are two other top Australians in America’s Cup winner Kyle Langford from Newcastle in third place and London Olympic gold medallist Nathan Outteridge from Wangi Wangi in fourth.

Outteridge and Jensen combined to win gold in the 49er skiff class in London and four years later won a silver at the Rio Olympics.

The Moth world championships are being raced on Garda. Pic: Martina Orsini.

Langford sailed with Slingsby in the Oracle America’s Cup team and the pair are now teammates on the Sail Grand Prix circuit.

But for their personal pleasure they race the foiling Moth and have helped Australia become a leader in the class.

Australians are placed well at the Moth world championships on Lake Garda. Pic: Martina Orsini.

Slingsby, who has yet to drop a race after two days of racing at Fraglia Vela Malcesine, on the shores of Lake Garda, won the last world championships held in 2019, winning the crown from Langford, while Rio Olympic Laser gold medallist Tom Burton third.

Nathan Outteridge is also a former world champion, winning in 2011 and 2014 and picking up a silver medal in 2015 and 2009.

Jensen finished with a bronze medal in the 2017 world championships.

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Originally published as SailGP Japan skipper Nathan Outteridge beats James Spithill, Moth world champ Tom Slingsby