Spithill in shock switch to Australian SailGP team
Jimmy Spithill has never been one to shy away from a challenge.
So when the opportunity to deputise for countryman Tom Slingsby at the helm of the Australian one-design F50 SailGP boat in Dubai next week came up, Spithill took the wheel.
It’s a shocking turn of events for the 44-year-old Australian. Until this week, Spithill was the driver for the United States entry in the global foiling league and led the side to their first regatta win of the season at the most recent event, in Spain in October.
However, Spithill departed the US crew this week as a new ownership group was announced for the team; a large investment group including technology investor and founding Uber engineer Ryan McKillen, and sports stars Deontay Wilder, DeAndre Hopkins and Kayvon Thibodeau. The new owners appointed seven-time world champion sailor Taylor Canfield as team driver.
Spithill plans to establish an Italian team for the next season of SailGP, given his links to the country with his role as helmsman with Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli in the America’s Cup, and is a free agent for the rest of the current campaign.
With Slingsby missing the event in Dubai as he and wife Helena are expecting their first child, Spithill has answered the call to take the wheel.
“When Tom approached me, I was stoked, but I did jokingly tell him my one condition, which is that he needs to name his first child Jimmy,” Spithill said. “My goal is no different to past races with the USA SailGP team: go out, race hard, stay consistent and hopefully be in a position on Sunday to make the final.”
Spithill made history by becoming the youngest skipper, at 30, to win the America’s Cup in 2010, and successfully defended it in 2013 when he led what is widely acclaimed as one of the greatest comebacks in sporting history. He was also named World Sailor of the Year in 2014.
Given SailGP is contested on one-design boats, Spithill will be well-versed with handling the Flying Roo and will look to continue the Australians’ dominant form.
They are the only team to have won a SailGP grand final and hold a comfortable seven-point lead after five of 13 rounds in season four.
“Jimmy is a legend of our sport,” Slingsby said. “He’s a natural leader who brings the perfect blend of race smarts, aggression and composure out on the water.
“Despite a shaky start in Dubai [last year], we were able to achieve some pretty remarkable things there with our comeback victory, and I’m really keen to see what Jimmy can deliver using his previous experience racing in SailGP with the Aussies next weekend.”