Please select your home edition
Edition
Mackay Boats 728x90 TOP

Olympic gold medallist Tom Slingsby to lead Australia SailGP Team in new global racing league

by SailGP 14 Oct 2018 21:54 PDT 15 October 2018
Australia SailGP team (l-r) Sam Newton, Jason Waterhouse, Kyle Langford, Tom Slingsby and Ky Hurst © Jason McCawley

Tom Slingsby – Olympic gold medallist, America's Cup winner, eight-time world champion and member of the Order of Australia – was today tabbed to lead the Australia SailGP Team in the global racing league's inaugural season. The full team was unveiled this morning on Sydney Harbour, which last week was announced as the first ever race venue (February 15-16, 2019) for the new racing league.

The Australian team features some of the nation's most decorated sailors, including Olympians, Sydney to Hobart alumni and Australia's most successful Ironman Ky Hurst. SailGP will give Slingsby and the Australian crew the first chance to represent their country in boats of this calibre. The identical wing-sailed F50s are the fastest catamarans in the world, capable of reaching speeds exceeding 50 knots (60mph/100kph).

The five members of the Australia SailGP Team are: Slingsby, 34, of Sydney (helmsman); Kyle Langford, 29, of Lake Macquarie, New South Wales (wing trimmer); Jason Waterhouse, 26, of Sydney (flight controller); Hurst, 37, of Gold Coast, Queensland (grinder); and Sam Newton, 32, of Sydney (grinder). In addition, Kinley Fowler, 30, of Perth, Western Australia, will serve as the reserve.

"I'm thrilled to have an Australian team, led by one of the country's most successful sailors of all time, competing in our groundbreaking new global sailing league," said SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts. "Australia has proven time and again that it knows how to put on a show for the world, and we couldn't have asked for a more iconic and stunning backdrop to host the first ever SailGP race than Sydney Harbour."

Spearheaded by Larry Ellison and Coutts, SailGP has set out to redefine sailing and will bring intensely competitive, inshore racing to fans in Sydney; San Francisco; New York; Cowes, U.K.; and Marseille, France, as world-class crews compete for the championship trophy and a US$1 million prize. Australia will take on teams from China, France, Great Britain, Japan and the United States.

"The opportunity to represent my country again is an extraordinary honour, and the chance to start this campaign on home waters – the best harbour in the world – is something that will make it even more special," said Slingsby. "We've assembled not only what I believe is the top of Australian sailing talent, but a team that is 100 percent focused on making our country, our fans and our sponsors proud to be on the journey with us. I've seen how national team success can unite and inspire not only sailors but the broader public, and we now have a chance to deliver that."

FOX SPORTS has signed a three-year agreement as SailGP's Official Broadcast Partner in Australia, and will air each of the global races on the network, starting with the Sydney event live. SailGP is also working toward a partnership with a free-to-air network for additional coverage of the Sydney grand prix in the Australian market.

"FOX SPORTS is delighted to become the official Australian broadcaster of SailGP for the next three years starting with live coverage of the Sydney race in February 2019," said head of FOX SPORTS Peter Campbell. "We look forward to following the exploits of the Australian SailGP Team led by Tom Slingsby, with FOX SPORTS bringing sailing fans all of the exciting on-water action from every race in the global league as it visits locations such as San Francisco, New York and Marseille."

With a primary goal of growing global viewership and broadening its fan base, SailGP and its television partners will focus on personality-driven broadcasts utilizing patented and leading-edge immersive media technologies.

The SailGP event in Sydney will take place in Sydney Harbour, east of the Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Shark Island will provide striking spectator viewing, with the event hub at Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron in the city's north shore. The Friday and Saturday racing will feature vantage points from a variety of locations, both onshore and on the water.

The Australia SailGP Team also announced its founding charity partner the Loyal Foundation, which raises money to fund children's medical equipment for hundreds of hospitals across Australia.

"I've worked with The Loyal Foundation for many years and am excited to have them on board as the Australia SailGP Team official charity partner," said Slingsby. "The work they do changes the lives of children across Australia and they give 100 cents of every dollar that is donated to the cause, so we're proud to be working with them."

Sanctioned by World Sailing, each SailGP grand prix event will consist of two competition days with five fleet races, culminating in a final match race between the two leaders. The final race in Marseille will feature a winner-takes-all, US$1 million championship match race between the season's top two teams to conclude three days of racing.

Follow the Australia SailGP Team on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram @SailGPAUS, and SailGP @SailGP.

Related Articles

Germany Deutsche Bank claim first SailGP event win
Race Day 2 of the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix The Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank has entered the winners circle, claiming their first event victory at the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in tricky, light conditions on the waters of Lake Geneva. Posted today at 4:03 pm
SailGP: Germany score first Event win - Day 2
The German crew led by Erik Heil sailed consistently, on a day where inconsistency was punished. Perhaps it was not surprising that in a nation known for its horology, that the time-clock should have played such a dominant role for the Final day of SailGP Switzerland. Posted today at 3:07 pm
SailGP: Australia on top in Geneva- Day 1
The Flying Roos (AUS) top of the leaderboard, after the first day of racing in SailGP Switzerland. The Flying Roos sit on top of the leaderboard, after the first day of racing in SailGP Switzerland. This was the first test of the new light air foils, and three races were sailed, all completed within the time limits. Posted today at 12:35 am
BONDS Flying Roos in pole position in Geneva
Day 1 of Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix The BONDS Flying Roos top the event leaderboard with 25 points after opening day in Geneva. All 12 international teams battled shifty, light conditions, with those able to stay up on the foils and nail the maneuvers finding themselves still in the hunt. Posted on 20 Sep
SailGP prepares for high-stakes Lake Geneva debut
A weekend of tactical, light-air racing on the horizon The Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix begins tomorrow with a weekend of tactical, light-air racing on the horizon. All twelve national teams hit the water today, getting in essential practice laps in the only freshwater venue of the season. Posted on 19 Sep
SailGP: Artemis is the 13th team to join SailGP
ETNZ co-helmsman Nathan Outteridge to be the helmsman for new Swedish SailGP team. SailGP CEO Russell Coutts has announced that the Swedish team Artemis is the 13th team to join the SailGP League. The helmsman will be Nathan Outteridge, currently a co-helmsman with Emirates Team New Zealand. Posted on 19 Sep
SailGP: Brits win French event
Day 2 of the Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez has been cancelled due to forecast thunderstorms Day 2 of the Rockwool France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez has been cancelled due to forecast thunderstorms expected to impact the area during scheduled racing. Posted on 13 Sep
ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix Day 1
Fletcher flies high on turbulent first day Day one of the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix went the way of Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team as they topped the event leaderboard after the first four fleet races of the weekend in Saint-Tropez. Posted on 12 Sep
SailGP: Brits top leaderboard after Day 1
A squirrely 15-18kts breeze opened up plenty of opportunity for aggressive tactics. Emirates GBR topped the SailGP France leaderboard after the first day of racing in Saint Tropez. The squirrely 15-18kt breeze was distorted by the surrounding high terrain, channeling the pressure and direction, caused some dramatic switching of places. Posted on 12 Sep
Riviera racing: SailGP set for Saint-Tropez return
As league confirms 2026 expansion team plans The Rolex SailGP Championship returns tomorrow - and France's famous "Mistral [wind] has turned up just in time," according to league CEO Sir Russell Coutts. Twelve national teams will hit the startline for the sold-out event. Posted on 11 Sep
Sea Sure 2025Zhik 2024 DecemberC-Tech 2020 Tubes 728x90 BOTTOM