A red mist just enveloped the America’s Cup.
Tom Slingby’s signing with American Magic adds a unique edge to the competition for Barcelona 2024.
Australian Slingby brings a fiery approach, admitting much of his competitiveness is built around his notorious temper.
It served him well as self-motivation in single-handed boats, winning five world titles and an Olympic gold medal in the Laser class and two world championships in the foiling Moth.
But he has transferred that into crewed boats, most notably in charge of Australia’s SailGP catamaran that has claimed back to back championships in the opening two seasons.
“I do have a temper – it’s known as Red Mist onboard when I start losing my temper – but my passion is what gets us to the top and I am not going to change the way I am,” he said ahead of this year’s SailGP final.
“Obviously I’ve got to keep my cool in the important parts of the race, and not let my temper cost us the race. But it’s also what makes our team so good – we are passionate, we work hard, and we put a lot on the line.”
A two-time world sailor the year, Slingsby was the missing name on the foiling monohulls that made such an impressive debut at Auckland 2021 and have been retained for the next edition.
His return to the America’s Cup scene is welcomed and adds further pressure to holders Team New Zealand who have taken their defence offshore.
Slingsby is no stranger to the America’s Cup but this time he takes a starring role.
He was Jimmy Spithill’s strategist for the stunning win against Team New Zealand at San Francisco 2013 and was at his side for the failed defence at Bermuda 2017.
Expect to see Slingsby on the wheel of American Magic who had Kiwi Dean Barker in charge for their ill-fated Auckland campaign that went upside down with their dramatic capsize.
Slingsby’s style is in contrast to the cool approach of most America’s Cup helmsman.
He has an affable boss at American Magic in Terry Hutchinson and it will be fascinating to see how the crew style is moulded. With Britain’s Paul Goodison retained, they have a viable option to go for the twin-helming approach that Luna Rossa successfully employed on their AC75 and appears to be a way forward for teams in the next edition.
Australia continue to churn out world class sailors but they have had to use back door methods to get Cup involvement.
Now the Aussies have three of the very best in key roles on rival boats at Barcelona – Slingsby with American Magic, Spithill with Luna Rossa, and Nathan Outteridge with Team New Zealand.
Spithill goes by the nickname Pitbull for his aggressive sailing approach, and Outteridge is known as “The Wind Whisperer” for his prowess in light breezes.
But it’s the “Red Mist” at American Magic that will have rival teams on red alert.
