Rugby
Cricket
League
Football
Racing
Combat Sports
Basketball
Golf
Motorsport
Other Sports
Extra cash is extra motivation for Australia in SailGP
Jasper Bruce, AAP • November 23rd, 2024 5:07 pm
Australia SailGP skipper Tom Slingsby - AAP Images
Australia are chasing redemption in the fifth SailGP season and an increased prize purse will provide extra motivation.
Tom Slingsby says an increased prize purse of almost $20m will provide extra motivation for Australia to chase redemption in the fifth SailGP season.
The globe-trotting, high-speed sailing league offered a total of $US7m (AUD$10.7m) in prizes across its fourth season, which ended with Spain stunning Australia and New Zealand in July's grand final on San Francisco Bay.
Three-time defending champions Australia had endured a mixed season, left to rue a mechanical issue in the decider that allowed the US$2m ($A$3.1m) jackpot to slip away.
SailGP has since announced an increased prize purse of US$12.8m ($A19.7m) will be available across the 14 events of the season, the first of which will be raced in Dubai this weekend.
The grand final race, contested by the season's top three F50 catamarans, will continue to carry a $A3.1m jackpot when it is shifted to Abu Dhabi this year.
"Anyone who says that's not a motivating factor is lying," Slingsby said of the increased prize purse.
"We all want to do well, we want success and we want to have our country at the top but we also want to get rewarded for it and that's motivating for all of us."
Australia will need to adjust to personnel changes for the upcoming season, with wing trimmer Kyle Langford and grinder Ed Powys leaving to join Italy and Denmark, respectively.
Langford has been a key member of the Australian team across four seasons and will be replaced by Englishman Chris Draper.
"Losing a key person (like Langford) is going to be tough for our team - yes, we've got great new people in, but team culture is how you win these events," said Olympic Gold medallist Slingsby.
"It's identical boats, shared data. All the teams are racing the same machines so it comes down to that culture and belief and skillset in that team."
Brazil will make its SailGP debut at the Dubai event, skippered by the league's first female driver Martine Grael.
Australia's home event on Sydney Harbour is third on the calendar, set to be held in the second week of February next year.
