New signing helps Australia Team dominate in Dubai in game of Snakes & Ladders
by Australia SailGP Team 23 Nov 2024 08:09 PST
23-24 November 2024
Tom Slingsby, driver of Australia SailGP Team celebrates victory with Chris Draper, wing trimmer of Australia SailGP Team, on Race Day 1 of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, UAE © Jason Ludlow for SailGP
The Australia SailGP Team launched their 2025 Rolex SailGP Championship campaign in dominant style, silencing any questions about the strength of their restructured squad. The triple SailGP champions surged to the top of the leaderboard after an impressive opening day of racing in Dubai.
Fans were treated to a historic moment as SailGP's largest-ever fleet of eleven nations lined up to compete on one of the most challenging and compact racecourses in the championship. Dubai's unpredictable light wind conditions tested every team, turning the day into what Australia Team Driver Tom Slingsby aptly described as a "game of snakes and ladders."
Despite these challenges, the Australians showcased an impressive evolution in their light-air performance—an area that has historically been their Achilles' heel.
Tom Slingsby credited new Wing Trimmer Chris Draper as a key driver to the team's success, who joined the team after the controversial transfer of former Wing Trimmer Kyle Langford to Redbull Italy, who had been with the Aussies since SailGP Season One.
Slingsby said, "We all know Chris's ability in the light air and he has brought a lot of experience to the team in that area. We are so happy to have him onboard and it showed today that he is a seamless fit for our team."
The day's standout moment came in the third race, when Australia executed a perfectly timed start to dominate the sprint to mark one and pull away from the fleet. They crossed the line nearly two minutes ahead of Emirates GBR in second place. Meanwhile, newcomer Mubadala Brazil, led by Martine Grael, impressed with a dramatic final sprint, overtaking four boats to claim sixth place.
Heading into day two, Australia leads the standings with 24 points, followed closely by fierce rivals 'Black Foils' New Zealand with 23 points. Emirates GBR, Canada, and the United States are tied in third with 18 points each.
Slingsby summarised the opening day of racing saying, "We could not be happier, we had a really good day and a good start to the season. We need to turn our efforts to having a good day tomorrow to make sure we get into that final."
Fans were also treated to a post-racing performance from iconic British rapper and singer Tinie Tempah, who delivered the ultimate aprés sail energy to close off the opening of the Rolex SailGP 2025 Championship.
Tomorrow's racing, which will include the winner-takes-all Podium Final, takes place in Dubai between 09:00-10:30PM AEDT on Sunday, with fans able to tune in live to watch the action unfold on Fox Sports and Kayo Sports.