Slingsby loses another podium final, but maintains the team's pole position in Season 4 leaderboard

Australia SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby on Race Day 1 of the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Cadiz, Spain © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP

Tom Singsby and his Australia SailGP Team still maintain their position as number one in the SailGP Season 4 leaderboard, despite another frustrating loss for the team in the Podium Final at the Cadiz Sail Grand Prix.

The close winner-takes-all podium race against Jimmy Spithill's United States Team and Nicolai Sehested's ROCKWOOL Denmark Team saw all teams race in a five-up configuration, due to challenging light air conditions. As the tension mounted, the crowd was treated to a dogfight between the Danes and Australians, with both teams battling to take the lead but ultimately succumbing to the tricky wind conditions and falling off the foils. USA Team driver Jimmy Spithill seized the opportunity, making a strategic manoeuvre to take the lead against both sides.

The race ended with USA in first place, Denmark in second and Australia in third position.

Speaking after racing, a dejected Tom Slingsby admitted he was 'frustrated' by the result, adding that Australia was 'almost lapped' by the United States. "It's just one mistake and the race is over," he said.

Although the Australian's did not secure a win in Cadiz, the team's strong performance across the weekend has allowed them to protect their top position in the Season 4 leaderboard on 43 points, ahead of Denmark on 36 points.

Nina Curtis, strategist of Australia SailGP Team, on the grinding handles on Australia SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby in action on Race Day 2 of the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Cadiz, Spain - photo © Bob Martin for SailGP

The fiercely competitive Tom commented on this point saying, "I'm sick of hearing it's good for the overall points at the end of an event, I want to hear well done you guys have won. I understand it's a good result but it's been five finals now where we haven't won. We haven't sailed well enough and I need to do better."

The league will now head to its next event, the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix on December 9-10, followed by the inaugural Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix on January 13-14. Tickets are on sale now for the fourth Australia Sail Grand Prix I Sydney, which returns on February 24-25 and can be purchased at SailGP.com/Sydney.