Team Australia Wins SailGP Championship—And $1 Million Prize—In San Francisco

Australia’s SailGP captain Tom Slingsby was all smiles after successful the SailGP Championship for a second successive yr (beating Japan and the USA within the Mubadala United States Sail Grand Prix Grand Remaining on a loopy, crash-filled day in San Francisco).

“We’ve by no means actually seen this caliber of fleet wherever on this planet,” mentioned Slingsby. “You all the time discuss, ‘Who’s the very best sailor world wide?’, however to be right here with all even boats makes it big for me that Australia got here out on high.

A loopy day on the Bay led to 2 totally different collisions between France and New Zealand and Spain and the USA. Two races had been deserted and restarted. And the Grand Remaining needed to be delayed because of a whale getting into the racecourse.

However, as soon as the race was restarted, the Aussies had the velocity and expertise that led them to victory and lifting of the Championship trophy within the San Francisco race village.

“We are able to name ourselves the very best sailors on this planet. That’s extra essential than cash. Glory lasts without end, and it actually looks like that.”

However I guess Slingsby and firm are fairly completely satisfied to assert the $1 million in prize cash (in knowledgeable sport that’s not likely recognized providing for large prize purses) too!

In truth, Tom Slingsby has led the Aussies to their second championship in a row by beating a troublesome American group led by America’s Cup legend Jimmy Spithill within the last, winner-take-all race and the Japanese group led by Nathan Outteridge.

And regardless of dropping within the last, it was unbelievable that the USA even managed to race in any respect, having suffered severe hull injury when the Spanish crashed into their boat in the course of the opening race of the day.

However, regardless of fast restore work guaranteeing they may race, and an enormous variety of followers cheering them on from the shore, Spithill’s group solely managed a third-place end within the last, persevering with his file of by no means having really gained a SailGP occasion.

And the cool factor is Australia gained’t have an excessive amount of time have fun their back-to-back successes. Season begins in simply over a month, with the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix happening on Could 14-15.

See you there!