The inaugural Fremantle SAILGP Grand Prix ended in a bittersweet podium for the home team, with driver Tom Slingsby admitting the loss to Great Britain on Sunday "hurts" deeply. The reigning champions, Great Britain, solidified their status as the team to beat in 2026, claiming victory in three of the day's four races on a challenging Bathers Bay course.
Ashby's Last-Minute Call-Up Saves the Weekend
The Australian team's journey to the final was anything but straightforward. The weekend was thrown into chaos on Thursday when wing trimmer Iain Jensen suffered a knee injury during a practice session. With Jensen sidelined in a bulky knee brace, skipper Tom Slingsby made a late-night plea to sailing legend Glenn Ashby.
"I called him at 10.30pm on Thursday and said, 'could you please get on a 6am flight out of Melbourne?'" Slingsby revealed. Ashby, who was on his farm, answered the call, arriving with just one day of practice before the high-stakes racing began. "He's a legend of our sport... we're very fortunate," Slingsby added.
A Gruelling Day on the Water
Winds upwards of 35km/h and choppy seas tested the entire fleet on Sunday, a stark reminder of the conditions that had already claimed Team Spain on Friday and New Zealand's Black Foils on Saturday. After a slow start, the Flying Roos found their rhythm, securing three consecutive third-place finishes in the fleet races to earn their spot in the Grand Prix finale.
Their berth in the final race, however, came with an immediate setback. A boundary penalty during the start sequence forced the Australians to be the third of three boats across the line. Great Britain, their rivals from the previous season's title decider, seized the opportunity and never looked back.
The Sting of an Old Rivalry
For Slingsby, losing to the British on home waters was a particular blow. "It hurts losing to the British here of all teams. I think the British are the last team we want to win," he said, channelling the classic Trans-Tasman rivalry. "It's not because of them personally, it's an Aussie-British rivalry, and that kills us. At least we've got the Ashes, though."
Despite the disappointment, perspective wasn't lost on the Australian skipper. He praised his team's resilience, stating, "And all things considered, it's a win for us with Jensen getting knocked out of racing and Glenn Ashby having to fill in last minute." The team ultimately secured second place in the Grand Prix final, fending off a late charge from France by a split second.
The French team's consistent performance across the weekend earned them the overall championship lead after the first round. Meanwhile, the event proved a hit with competitors, with USA driver Taylor Canfield praising Fremantle as an "awesome" and challenging venue that pushed the F50 catamarans to their limits. The focus for the Flying Roos now shifts to redemption at the next event in Sydney, with the aim of overhauling a dominant British team in the 2026 season.
