Search

show me:

SailGP wild weather delay aids Aussies

3 minute read

A delay in SailGP racing prompted by potential gale force winds has given Australia more time to repair their damaged boat in England.

TOM SLINGSBY poses during Perpetual LOYAL's Boxing Day Bon Voyage at Rose Bay Marina in Sydney, Australia.
TOM SLINGSBY poses during Perpetual LOYAL's Boxing Day Bon Voyage at Rose Bay Marina in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images

A forecast of severe weather has prompted SailGP organisers to cancel the first day of racing in the latest event in England, a call which gives Australia precious extra time to repair their damaged boat.

The team learned on Friday that racing will be delayed until late Sunday or early Monday (AEST), providing predicted gale force winds subside.

Australia's onshore technical team have been busy working on their boat, repairing wing-flap damage suffered on Wednesday.

"We were aiming to have the boat ready for racing tomorrow but it was always going to be a rush," skipper Tom Slingsby told AAP.

"We would have made it to the start line but we would have had to prioritise a lot of the work that needed to be done.

"We wouldn't have as much time tuning the wing and calibrating everything.

"It gives us a lot more time, so it's definitely an advantage for us not racing tomorrow."

With practice on Friday also cancelled, it meant rival teams did not have even more preparation time than Australia on the water, a policy which reflects their dominance.

Organisers haven't allowed the superior Australia and Japanese boats as much training time at each location as the other four teams.

"This is the way the league want to make the racing closer," Slingsby said.

"They deem that us and Japan are too far ahead so they are handicapping us."

As a result, Slingsby predicted racing would be a lot tighter than in previous events after Australia and Japan have contested the three match race finals so far.

"Positions will be a lot more mixed up than we're used to," he said.

Japan, skippered by Australia's Nathan Outteridge leads the overall standings on 140 points from Australia 139, Great Britain 106, United States 105. China and France are locked on 93.

Think. Is this a bet you really want to place?

For free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit www.gamblinghelponline.org.au