SailGP: Australian legend said to be Italy bound ahead of Season 5
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 13 Nov 2024 11:30 AEDT
Australia SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby at the wheel with Kyle Langford, wing trimmer of Australia SailGP Team, on Race Day 2 of the France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez, France © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
TThe revolving door continues to redistribute SailGP crew just two weeks out from the start of Season 5, which will start with 11 teams in Dubai and then grow to the full complement of 12 teams for the second in Auckland in mid-January.
The rumoured defection of a prominent member from the Australian SailGP team has proved to be on the money, with three times SailGP champion, and America's Cup winner, Kyle Langford being the latest to bag his bags and head for what is believed to be an Italian address.
Officially a SailGP League will only make the coy comment that Langford has left his long-time Australian team to "explore new opportunities". In HR-speak that phrase is a euphemism for someone who has been tempted to join a competitor company. Often that "ingrate" has their desk packed into a carton and is frog-marched from the building.
However that won't have happened with Langford. Instead a more likely scenario is that the Australians pleaded with him to stay, but that like several other SailGP sailors Langford is in receipt of an offer he can't refuse.
The Godfather making this latest offer, is believed to be his compatriot, twice America's Cup winner, the multinational Jimmy Spithill, who is heading up a new Italian SailGP team, which is still in stealth mode despite Season 5 beginning in two weeks.
In a written statement SailGP Australia have confirmed that:
Former Canada wing trimmer Chris Draper is set to join triple SailGP Champions Australia in the team’s first major crew change since Season 2.
Draper replaces Australia stalwart Kyle Langford, who has left the team to ‘explore new opportunities’.
Draper joins the team after previously racing with several SailGP teams, including Great Britain in Season 1, Japan in Season 2 and Canada in Seasons 3 and 4. His background also includes numerous European and World Championship titles, an Olympic bronze medal in the 49er class and multiple America’s Cup campaigns.
Australia driver Tom Slingsby said Draper’s appointment [in more corporate-speak] ‘marks an exciting new chapter for our team’.
“This change presents a valuable opportunity to bring a fresh perspective, and Chris’s skills, especially in light wind conditions, will be instrumental in helping us take our performance to another level this season.”
Slingsby has retained the rest of the Australian line-up for the upcoming season, including flight controller Jason Waterhouse, grinders Kinley Fowler and Sam Newton, reserve grinder Ed Powys, strategist Natasha Bryant and reserve strategist Nina Curtis.
Ben Durham also returns as head coach to help shape the team’s strategy and development.
Paying tribute to Langford, Slingsby said he had been ‘an invaluable part of our team from the beginning’.
“We are grateful for his contributions in our success and wish him all the best in his next adventure.”
Speaking about the transfer period, Slingsby said ‘it’s natural other teams try and recruit our athletes to their team’.
“It’s a testament to what we’ve built together, and I’m stoked we managed to keep most of our squad intact, many of whom have been with me since the start of SailGP.”