SAILGP: Flying Roos skipper Tom Slingsby ‘hurting’ as Great Britain claim inaugural Fremantle Grand Prix

Flying Roos driver Tom Slingsby says losing to Great Britain at the inaugural Fremantle SAILGP event on Sunday “kills us” as the reigning champions proved they are the team to beat again in 2026. However, the sailing superstar said he was stoked with the Australian team’s podium finish after legend Glenn Ashby had to be called out of retirement to replace wing trimmer Iain Jensen, who suffered a knee injury during a practice session off Bathers Bay on Thursday. As Jensen sported a bulky knee brace on the sidelines, his team finally found their groove on the water after a learning day to start the weekend. The flying Roos won a sprint to the line against Denmark to claim third in the first fleet race before claiming two more third-place positions to earn a berth in the Grand Prix finale. However, a boundary penalty while turning back to begin the run into the start line meant the Flying Roos needed to be the third team, of three, across that line. And arch-rivals Great Britain, who beat them for the title last season, took full advantage to add a third win from Sunday’s four races. “It hurts losing to the British here of all teams. I think the British are the last team we want to win,” Slingsby said. “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. “We’ll pick up our end for Australian sport at the Sydney event. But the British are sailing well, hats off to them, but we’re really confident we can overhaul them this year” “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 Australian team claimed second spot by a split second after fending off France, who scored the most points across the weekend to lead the championship after the first round, after they briefly passed them at the final turn. It’s a result that looked highly unlikely on Thursday, with Slingsby revealing a late-night phone call to Sailing Hall of Fame member Ashby saved their weekend. “He owns a farm, and he was feeding cows a couple of hours before, and I called him at 10.30pm on Thursday and said, ‘could you please get on a 6am flight out of Melbourne’?’” Slingsby said after the final. “He got over here, and we got one day of practice and then straight into it. He’s a legend of our sport, and just our ability to pick up the phone and call Glenn Ashby to fill in, we’re very fortunate.” There is no timeline for Jensen’s return, with swelling in his knee complicating the scan results. The conditions were rough out in the bay on Sunday, with winds upwards of 35km/h and choppy seas. However, the field learnt from the carnage early in the weekend, which claimed team Spain on Friday and New Zealand’s Black Foils on Saturday, to avoid getting too close. The reigning champions marked their intent to start the day, jumping into the top three after chasing down the Italians in the upward leg of the first fleet race and claiming the win. The Flying Roos looked to be struggling down in eighth but found their rhythm through the back half of the race and had themselves in a 20m drag race for third with Denmark. With the rock wall just metres to their right, the Australian team backed their speed, and a clever adjustment just before the line saw them home third, moving them within two points of a vital top-three position. The Roos lived up to their name to start the second race, one of three boats flying at over 90km/h into the first turn. However, it was the French on the inside line that jumped into the lead in the straight with Great Britain settling in behind them. The pair battled all the way as Australia sat easy in third, a mistake in the final turn costing France the victory, with Great Britain again showing they will be tough to beat in 2026. After a brilliant debut on Saturday, the new Swedish team found their bid for the final slipping away after falling to 10th in the early stages of the third fleet race. The Australians remained disciplined as they settled into third, and with the newbies falling to 11th, the crowd-favourite home team claimed the final place in the deciding race. USA driver Taylor Canfield said he hoped the event remained on the SAILGP calendar in the future. “Let’s come back for sure, it was an awesome week,” he said. “I think you can ask anyone out there. It was definitely a little ropey for us at times today for a lot of teams, including ourselves. “But it was cool. I’ve never come out of the back of a wave and felt like the foils are fully out and then land back on the foils, so we’re definitely pushing these boats. “And I think it’s a good opportunity to continue to push the performance around the fleet, coming to a venue like this.”