France: Tom Slingsby is focused on steering his Australian SailGP Team back onto the winning path this weekend in St Tropez, after acknowledging that the team’s performance has slipped at recent events.
Slingsby, the Australia Driver and CEO said: “Our results have been dropping a little and we really do need to right the ship. We need to have a good result here and get back onto the podium.”
The team has recently faced pressure from fellow competing nations during racing, with teams taking the opportunity to push the Australian out of his dominant position. In the most recent instance, the French Team pulled a penalty on the Australians during the final day of the Denmark Sail Grand Prix, a move which took the Aussies out of the final.
“There is a reason these drivers are here; they are ruthless sailors. It’s the game we play and I would do the exact same thing to take out my competition,” Slingsby said
Prior to the team’s final practice, the Great Britain SailGP Team stood alongside Slingsby’s Australia Team and other team’s representing the Commonwealth nations to pay tribute to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The teams’ held a three-minute silence at the tech base in Saint Tropez, with all team flags flying at half-mast.
“It meant a lot to stand in solidarity with our fellow Commonwealth teams and pay our respects and commemorate Queen Elizabeth’s extraordinary life and dedicated service from Saint Tropez,” the Australian said
Great Britain Driver and CEO Ben Ainslie said: “It was a wonderful moment earlier today that we had three minutes of silence with the Commonwealth teams. I want to thank them for joining us in that moment of remembrance. In the days and weeks to come we hope the sorrow turns to celebration of an incredible life – perhaps the most incredible life that’s ever been lived.”
Racing will commence today in Saint-Tropez between 10:30PM- 12:00AM AEST, with the final race day taking place on Sunday. Australian fans can tune in live on Fox Sports and on Kayo in Australia to watch the first day of racing. Kayo is offering fans free access to both the live and replay racing, via its Kayo Freebies offer.
