LOS ANGELES – July 21, 2023 –
The anticipation is at an all-time high as Australia readies itself to fight for the inaugural Oracle Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix, commencing tomorrow. SailGP’s most challenging track in history awaits the ten competing national teams, promising a heart-pounding spectacle for Aussie fans.
Described by Tom Slingsby as being like a “street circuit with very little turning lanes”, the racecourse of the Port of Los Angeles will be the tightest the team’s have ever raced on in SailGP’s history. Fans can expect more high press manoeuvres from the teams as well as the thermal afternoon breezes of ‘Hurricane Gulch’, which could result in eye-watering speeds.
The Australians were able to trial the course today, with practice racing taking place with all ten competing teams.
Tom Slingsby said: “If we get the wind we can expect really close racing that will be super exciting for fans. I think of this race track more like a street cricut in F1. You are just trying to keep yourself clear, it’s really tight and there aren’t many overtaking lanes.”
There is just one point between New Zealand at the top of the leaderboard and Australia in second and the fierce rivalry between the two teams looks only set to grow. Slinbsy commented that the team’s core focus for the event will be to reclaim their position on the top.
Tom Slingsby said: “We’d love to win here and we know if we are sailing well as a team then the results will come. We are off to a good start and of course one of our goals is to overtake the Kiwis and move to the front.”
Peter Burling, Driver of the New Zealand Team added, “We’ve always had a good rivalry with Tom and it’s going to be incredibly tight this weekend.”
The first day of racing in Los Angeles will commence in Australia at 9am AEDT on Sunday 23 July.
Olivia Hogan
Head of Marketing & Communications, APAC, SailGP
For more information. For details on how to watch around the globe visit SailGP.com/watch.
SAILGP SEASON 4 CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS //
1 // NEW ZEALAND | 10 points
2 // Australia | 9 points
3 // Canada | 8 points
4 // ROCKWOOL Denmark | 7 points
5 // Spain | 6 points
6 // France | 5 points
7 // Emirates Great Britain | 4 points
8 // Switzerland | 3 points
9 // United States | 2 points
10 // Germany | 1 point
ABOUT SAILGP //
SailGP is the world’s most exciting racing on water. The global championship features national teams battling in short, intense races at iconic stadium-style venues across the globe. The high-tech, high-speed action features sailing’s best athletes racing in identical hydrofoiling F50 catamarans, flying at speeds approaching 100 km/h. SailGP also races for a better future, championing a world powered by nature. Visit SailGP.com for more information.
