Australia SailGP Team meet Duchess of Cambridge in Super Sunday at Great Britain Sail Grand Prix
by Olivia Hogan / Australia SailGP Team 1 Aug 2022 07:16 NZST
30-31 July 2022
HRH The Duchess of Cambridge stands in the cockpit of the Australia SailGP Team F50 catamaran as she speaks with Tom Slingsby, CEO and driver of Australia SailGP Team, during a tour of the Technical Base at the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix | Plymouth © Bob Martin for SailGP
Tom Slingsby and his Australia SailGP team have lost their winning streak, with their mates from across the ditch, New Zealand, claiming their first ever SailGP title at the Great Britain Sail Grand Prix. The super Sunday of racing also delivered excitement off the water with the Duchess of Cambridge joining the global championship in Plymouth ahead of the racing.
The Australian's nearly didn't make it to the final race against New Zealand and Denmark, after the team suffered catastrophic damage to their rudder during the fourth fleet race, which required it to be completely replaced ahead of the final qualifying race in a pit lane miracle turn over.
Tom Slingsby said: "It's usually a forty five minute job to replace a rudder and I thought we were done for and wouldn't make that fifth fleet race which we needed to do well in to even make the final. Our shore team and the tech team did it in about 10 minutes, completely unbelievable and hats off to them."
"We are actually ecstatic about coming second in this event. With the challenges of the rudder and the tough shifty conditions we really thought that we could be coming in fifth or sixth at this event, so I'm really happy. Our luck had to come to an end soon and the Kiwis deserved it, they were the stand out team."
The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, visited SailGP to get a taste of the incredible speed and skill involved in the global racing championship, prior to the final race day of the Plymouth Sail Grand Prix. As part of her visit, Her Royal Highness joined the Australian SailGP Team pit lane at their team base to get up close and personal with the team's F50 foiling catamaran also known as the Flying Roo.
Tom Slingsby, Driver, and Lucy Copeland, Strategist, climbed on board the F50 with the Duchess of Cambridge for the tour, demonstrating the various positions on board and showcasing the cutting edge technology of the F50.
Tom Slingsby said: "It was a proud moment for us to have the Duchess of Cambridge visit the Aussies Team base here in Plymouth. She has a keen interest in sailing and it was pretty special to have her jump on board the flying roo, where we showed her the controls of the Driver position and how the foils keep our boat flying.
Lucy Copeland said: "It's one of those moments that you'll remember forever and so cool to be able to show Her Royal Highness what SailGP is all about."
After spending time ashore, the Duchess of Cambridge then joined the British SailGP team aboard their F50 foiling catamaran to take part in a friendly 'Commonwealth Race' against their New Zealand rivals. Her Royal Highness got behind the wheel of the cutting-edge F50 during the race, with the British side cinching a victory against the Kiwis.
Slingsby made a tongue in cheek comment saying: "We weren't invited to take part in the Commonwealth match race against the Brits with the Duchess of Cambridge on board, probably because they didn't want the Aussies to beat them."
SailGP will now prepare for the next event in the Season 3 calendar, the Denmark Sail Grand Prix, which will take place in Copenhagen on the 19-20 of August.
Season 3 Leaderboard Standings:
1. Australia- 29 points
2. Great Britain- 24 points
3. New Zealand- 22 points
4. Canada- 22 points
5. Denmark- 20 points
6. France- 15 points
7. United states - 13 points
8. Spain- 8 points
9. Switzerland- 7 points