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Tom Slingsby has returned from paternity go away to search out himself because the senior statesman of SailGP, able to hold pushing Workforce Australia in the direction of one other massive payday, whereas additionally difficult the youthful skippers to step it up within the world league.
Slingsby is again on the wheel of Workforce Australia’s “Flying Roo” foiling catamaran for SailGP’s debut in Abu Dhabi on Saturday and Sunday (native time) on the midpoint of Season 4.
He skipped the Dubai regatta final month to be together with his spouse, Helena, for the start of their first son, Leo.
Since that regatta, star skippers Jimmy Spithill and Ben Ainslie have introduced their retirements from racing within the 10-team league.
Spithill skippered the Aussies to second place in Dubai as Slingsby’s fill-in, then introduced he was completed racing with a view to deal with beginning an Italian group for Season 5.
Two weeks earlier, he left the US group after it was offered to a gaggle of buyers.
Ainslie, probably the most embellished sailor in Olympic historical past with 4 gold medals and one silver, introduced final week that he was handing the wheel of the British catamaran to two-time Olympic gold medallist Giles Scott so he may deal with the America’s Cup later this 12 months, in addition to working the SailGP group as CEO.
Ainslie, who turns 47 on February 5, gained consecutive regattas earlier this season. Spithill, 44, has gained one regatta.
Slingsby, 39, has dominated SailGP because it launched in 2019, claiming every of the primary three $US1 million, winner-take-all season championship races.
He mentioned he thought of Ainslie and Spithill his largest rivals annually.
“I believe a few of the youthful era have not stepped as much as the plate as a lot as they might have, and so they’ve obtained to show it,” Slingsby mentioned.
“Jimmy and Ben are of their mid-40s and nonetheless profitable SailGP occasions constantly, and the brand new, younger era, most of them have not gained an occasion.
“Outcomes-wise, they have been nonetheless the highest sailors on this planet.”
New Zealand’s Peter Burling, who turned 33 on January 1, has gained twice this season.
The one different skipper to win a regatta this season is Spain’s Diego Botin, who turned 30 on Christmas Day.
“The younger era want to essentially present why they’re the following era of this fleet,” Slingsby mentioned.
“Knock your self out. I am now the oldest skipper within the the fleet. I suppose I am throwing down the gauntlet somewhat with that.
“In case you are the following era, you have to show why you are one of the best on this planet and you have to knock us older guys off the perch.”
Burling is the two-time reigning America’s Cup champion helmsman with Emirates Workforce New Zealand, and has gained a gold and two silver Olympic medals with Cup crewmate Blair Tuke
Slingsby and Ainslie have been on Spithill’s crew aboard Oracle Workforce USA that pulled off one of many biggest comebacks in sports activities to defend the America’s Cup in 2013. It was Spithill’s second straight America’s Cup victory.
The earlier 12 months, Slingsby gained a gold medal on the London Olympics, the place Ainslie gained his fourth straight gold medal.
Slingsby is returning to the America’s Cup this 12 months as helmsman of the New York Yacht Membership’s American Magic.
Burling will go for a three-peat with Emirates Workforce New Zealand, Ainslie continues to skipper INEOS Britannia, and Spithill returns as co-helmsman of Italy’s Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli Workforce.
Slingsby and mates have but to win this season however proceed to guide the standings with 52 factors, properly away from ROCKWOOL Denmark with 41 and New Zealand 40.
Emirates GBR have 38 factors and america, now skippered by Taylor Canfield, have 35.
The purse for this season’s winner-take-all podium race has been elevated to $2 million.
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