What is the Australian SailGP team?
The Australian SailGP team is Australia's entry in SailGP, an international sailing competition using high-speed foiling catamarans. Led by Olympic champion Tom Slingsby, the team won the first three SailGP seasons.
SailGP was launched in 2019 by Larry Ellison and Russell Coutts. Teams from different countries race identical F50 catamarans, which rise out of the water on hydrofoils and can reach speeds of close to 100 kilometres per hour.
Tom Slingsby, who won Olympic gold in the Laser class at the London 2012 Olympics, is the Australian team's driver and chief executive.
Champions
The Australian team won the inaugural SailGP season in 2019, and then won the second and third seasons as well, making it the most successful team in the competition's early years.
Events are held in cities around the world, including Sydney, San Francisco, Saint-Tropez and Dubai. Races are short and take place close to shore, making them easy for spectators to watch.
The Australian team has been known for its aggressive racing and teamwork. Slingsby has also been an America's Cup winner as part of Oracle Team USA in 2013.
Did You Know?
SailGP boats are wing-sailed catamarans that fly above the water on foils.