Ace racer ditches plan to watch from couch

TOM Slingsby had a simple plan for this year’s Sydney to Hobart — watch the start with a couple of mates, beer in hand as he waved the fleet off.

But the multiple world sailing champion’s summer was turned on its head this week and he found himself named skipper of the 100-footer InfoTrack, the boat that last year carried him to a line honours win and a race record.

“Going out and earning money has to trump sitting on the couch with a beer in hand,” said Slingsby, one of Austra- lia’s top professional sailors who has spent the past six months attempting to breathe life into an Australian-backed America’s Cup campaign.

“Sitting on the couch or on a boat watching the start was my goal but this is my only way to make money and I haven’t had a pay check for a while.”

Despite his success in winning the Sydney to Hobart last year, Slingsby doesn’t actually enjoy doing it, preferring the close combat of smaller boat racing.

“I don’t get seasick on yachts, just powerboats and I enjoy it when we are racing close with someone,” he said.

“But as soon as we get separated and all you can see is the ocean or horizon I don’t like it as much. I prefer hand-tohand combat, that’s how my mind works.”

InfoTrack last year claimed the race record of just over one day and 13 hours for the 628 nautical race south when it was named Perpetual Loyal.

With the early forecast favouring the likes of Black Jack, Wild Oats and LDV Comanche, Slingsby’s immediate goal is to deliver the yacht’s new owner, Christian Beck, a dream start.

“He says his dream has always been to be first out Sydney Heads so that’s what we are going to try and deliver,” said the London Olympic gold medallist, former World Sailor of the Year and two-time America’s Cup campaigner.

The forecast of fast, downwind conditions this year will favour InfoTrack’s lighter rivals Wild Oats X1, Black Jack and LDV Comanche.

Wild Oats yesterday was undergoing final checks to her electrics and equipment after being struck by lightning last weekend.

A fleet of just over 100 yachts is expected to be in the Sydney Harbour start line on Boxing Day.