Aussies draw strength from their ‘up and down’ season

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Aussies draw strength from their ‘up and down’ season

Tom Slingsby says lessons learned during a tumultuous SailGP season will play into Australia’s hands ahead of the winner-take-all season finale in San Francisco.

Australia are odds-on to join New Zealand and one other boat in the $2 million (USD) season finale on Sunday afternoon (local time), needing only to avoid penalty points and finish seventh or higher on the leaderboard after five fleet races.

Slingsby’s boat largely has a strong start to the SailGP calendar to thank for sitting second place the season leaderboard heading into the 13th and final regatta on San Francisco Bay.

Champions across the first three seasons of the high-speed sailing league, Australia have endured a lukewarm fourth campaign, especially since winning their home event on Sydney harbour in February.

Australia crashed into a race mark in the follow-up event in Christchurch, losing eight season points as penalty and finishing the regatta in last place, before tech issues in Bermuda and a capsize in Halifax also conspired against Slingsby and co.

“It’s been a season of ups and downs for us,” Australia’s skipper Slingsby told AAP. “Previously, we’ve led from start to finish on the season pointscore and come into the final with a very hard to beat attitude. This season, the Kiwis have had that season.

“It’s been highs and lows but I do feel like it’s only made stronger.

“We’ve been through so many different scenarios this year and we’ve pulled through as a squad and we’re going to continue to do that.”

In the absence of recent form, Australia will draw confidence from their record on San Francisco Bay, which traditionally plays host to heavy air and fast racing.

Aside from winning all three previous finals on the Bay, Australia thrived in similar conditions for their only event win this season, in Sydney.

“We’ve done three events (in San Francisco) and won all three, convincingly,” Slingsby said.

“We’re three from three and this is a winner takes all. You start from scratch, even points, winner takes all and we’ve managed to win that. I know my team, how they perform under pressure.

“I wouldn’t want anyone else behind me in my squad. That’s where I draw my confidence.”

Australia will have one final day of practice on San Francisco Bay on Friday before the event proper begins on Saturday afternoon.

“We know what we need to do here,” coach Ben Durham told AAP. “I think we feel as ready as we’ve ever been for a final, so that’s good confidence for the team.

“We’ve been through a lot of adversity through the year and I think that’s bonded us closer.”

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