SAILGP SYDNEY
Defending champ unfazed by ‘noise’
Tom Slingsby knows in the search for extreme speed that a moment of ecstasy can come with more than a splash of agony – and expensive and extensive repairs.
The Australian skipper is aware that one tiny push too far and the thrill of cracking the 100km/h barrier will end in tears and potentially one of the highest damage bills in the sport.
That won’t stop the daredevil Olympian and multiple world sailor of the year and his crew pushing the limits on home waters this weekend in the two days of wild SailGP racing.
Last year the crazy happened on shore when a wild storm thundered in from the west. It caused widespread havoc and damage to the wing sails of boats when lifted from the water on to shore after the race.
This year, with the potential for strong winds, it could happen on the
Australian surfer Molly Picklum declared the pressure of being defending champion was just “noise in your head” as she surged into the quarter-finals of the Hurley Pro in Hawaii.
Picklum, who reached the final of the Pipe Pro last week, where she earned the first ever perfect score of 10.00 by a woman at the famous North Shore break, is backing that form up at Sunset Beach. water. While it could be an uncomfortable, physical and jarring ride, Slingsby is all in as he chases the mantle of SailGP top gun – and an all-important first-leg win in the series for Australia.
Slingsby said the top speed he and his Australian team had hit in the foiling machines racing in Sydney last Saturday and Sunday afternoon was 92.37km/h.
The all-time top speed on the sophisticated F50 catamarans, which race above the water on aerodynamic blades, is 99.94km/h. That time is held by the French crew in 20knots plus winds in San Tropez.
Slingsby believes Sydney’s conditions could produce the right mix required to turn the harbour into a record-breaking speedway.
However, it will be a rough and dangerous ride during which a catastrophic high-speed crash is the potential by-product of the speed chase.
“Obviously we’re hitting cavitation
She could be on a collision course with fellow Aussie Isabella Nichols who knocked out compatriot and two-time world champ Tyler Wright to also make the final eight as the competition finally got underway after days of waiting.
Picklum, who is already qualified for the Paris Olympics, said her experience last year at the event was a at those speeds,” Slingsby said in reference to the phenomenon in which high speed causes the water to bubble near the foil, reduces lift and ultimately limits the ability to fly the boat.
“And if you do touch 100 now, it’s going to be shortly followed by a crash because you lose all lift on the foils at those speeds.
“It’s a good and bad thing, getting those sorts of speeds.
“If you do 100, just with the cavitation on these foils and everything, it will be followed by a pretty significant crash straight after.
“So it’s also daunting.
“So you just want to get over that 100km/h mark and then back off pretty quickly.’’
Like offroad help, and the pressure of defending was no issues.
“(It) just adds another story in your brain. It’s not pressure but just more noise in your head,” Picklum said after setting up a quarter-final with American Lakey Peterson before surfing ended for the day.
“It’s all good - it means that I can surf this wave and I have the ability to take it out, so let’s driving, cavitation makes for a tough, rugged and bumpy ride.
As the F50 slows, its platform shudders and shakes as the foil struggles to generate lift from the vaporised water surrounding it.
“On the wheel there’s a lot of load and, yeah, I’m a 90kilo, pretty fit guy and I’ve got to hold the wheel as tight as I can because it’s really bucking you around quite a lot,’’ Slingsby said.
Even the prospect of a major crash won’t deter these sailing speed junkies from their quest.
“For sure we will go for it,” Slingsby said. “Everyone wants to crack the 100.
“We’re just right on the limit of what sailing boats can do speed wise but you still want to do it.
“It’s also the most exhilarating do it again.”
Nicholls will take on Bettylou Sakura Johnson in their quarter-final after the local star took out Australian Sally Fitzgibbon, who won her opening heat in the best showing of the season so far.
Aussies Jack Robinson, Liam O’Brien and Ryan Callinan all remain alive in the men’s event with just two days left in the window to crown a winner. thing you can do because you know you’re right on the edge of a crash. “These foils are essentially like an aeroplane wing and you need full control over them to control your flight.
“The way it feels is like turbulence on an aeroplane. Then it starts pumping in and then all of a sudden you start adding lift and the lift isn’t coming and it becomes very erratic and, yeah, it’s a bit scary because you just don’t know what’s going to happen. “You don’t know if the foil is going to lift you or if it’s going to suck you down into the water.”
The SailGP series has been raced on Sydney Harbour every year since its inception four seasons ago. This year the fleet has 10 teams and the Australians will be hunting their first leg win of the season.
SATURDAY & SUNDAY FROM 4PM
LIVE ON FOX SPORTS