A Surprise Olympic campaign for America's Cup heavyweight

by Rob Kothe & the Sail-World Team on 4 Sep 2015 Weymouth 2012 was for every Australian sailor there, a somewhat special regatta
On a media RIB close to the action on the Nothe medal course, watching Tom Slingsby pounding the deck of his Laser with closed fist, with glistening eyes as the Qingdao monkey leapt from his back. The first Australian Gold medal of London 2012.

Watching Nathan Outteridge sail onto the 49er medal course with his Australian Sailing Team cap on backwards, the statement being ‘we're cool’ before he and Iain 'Goobs' Jensen took Gold, then wheeled over to Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page who were preparing for their medal race, ‘OK we've done our job, now you do yours. ‘And they did.

It was an emotional experience having seen these guys so many times as striving teenagers, achieving their London 2012 mission.

That last Friday night in the Cove Hotel in Portland, the celebrations in the Australian camp were amazing. The place was packed, but on arrival I headed for the bar to get two glasses of wine. 30 minutes later when I reached the front of the queue my order had changed to two bottles.

The whole experience was intense and it’s obviously something that Tom Slingsby has not forgotten. While he has a key role on the Oracle Team USA campaign it seems his eyes are at least part are on the Olympics.

At Audi Hamilton Island Race Week a few weeks ago he was interviewed about the upcoming Rio event. First up he identified our key medal chances after three Gold and a Silver in London.

'I think we could replicate that, but probably not beat that,' Slingsby told the assembled media. 'I think we have four very strong medal chances.'

Slingsby said five times 470 World Champion Mat Belcher, who won gold in London with Malcolm Page would be difficult to beat. Belcher and crew Will Ryan have been dominated the class since London and have won in the recent Rio 2016 test event.

And the Laser Class, Tom Burton has been world ranked number one since London. Slingsby commented “He was my training partner, and he's sort of picked up the baton and run with it. He's dominating, he's a real chance.'

As we expected Slingsby also named London gold medallist Nathan Outteridge and his crew Iain Jensen as strong medal hopes in the 49er and cousins Jason Waterhouse and Lisa Darmanin who beat the strongest contenders in the Nacra 17, with a Gold medal in the Rio Olympic program.

Slingsby, who after London sailed straight into the winning Oracle Team USA said that after competing in two Olympics himself, he's finding it a little difficult not being a part of it for Rio.

'If you asked me a year ago how much I miss it I probably would have said I'm on a new chapter and I'm enjoying this,' he said.

'But all the hype for the Olympics, there's nothing like it. I definitely miss all the adrenaline of knowing you're going to an Olympics.

'America's Cup, we've got the same thing - an event every four years - but it was just a bit different when I was competing by myself.

'I dedicated 12 years to the Olympics and when I stuffed up in China in 2008 (he came 22nd overall) I had to wait four years for another chance.'

Then came the news—While he won’t be in Rio, Slingsby said he's definitely not done with Olympic sailing.

'I've probably got two more Olympics after this one if I want to keep going,'

'I see myself doing another Olympic campaign. This one just didn't work out quite right ... but 2020, why not?’

Bloody hell, why not?

A Finn campaign, a super competitve class with strong opponents like Giles Scott and more. Now that would be interesting.