‘Really sad’ SailGP final leaving San Fran: Slingsby

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‘Really sad’ SailGP final leaving San Fran: Slingsby

Australia driver Tom Slingsby is “really sad” SailGP will relocate its grand final from San Francisco, admitting the upcoming move could expose the reigning champions’ weaknesses.

Bosses of the high-speed sailing league this week announced Abu Dhabi would host the 14th and final regatta on the 2024/25 calendar, with San Francisco relegated to the fifth event of next season after three years hosting the decider.

AAP understands the move will work out as a better financial deal for a league still working to build a loyal audience globally.

But SailGP’s decision has proven unpopular amongst the *********** boat, which capitalised on heavy conditions to win the last two grand finals on San Francisco Bay.

As Australia looks to lock up a spot in a fourth consecutive decider in the US from Saturday (local time), Slingsby reflected on the end of an era.

“It’s really sad that it’s not going to stay here in San Francisco,” he told AAP.

“The conditions, the history of this place; SailGP and San Francisco have a great history.

“Speaking as a sailor without any commercial (consideration) or looking at the event and how to keep the event profitable, San Francisco is the right venue.

“But when you’ve got to pay the bills and you’ve got to keep the event profitable, Abu Dhabi might be the right decision. Those decisions are made way above me.”

Australia finished seventh in the inaugural Abu Dhabi regatta this year, unable to make the best of lighter winds.

But with three events scheduled in the Middle East next season, Slingsby’s all-star F50 risks losing ground to the chasing pack if it cannot master those conditions going forward.

“Moving the final to Abu Dhabi puts the final in our weakest spot,” Slingsby said.

“We’re going to have to work on weaknesses, light air, very flat water, probably not foiling a lot. That’s something we’re going to have to improve on.”

Lighter conditions have made for inconsistent results from the three-time championship-winning *********** boat this season, SailGP’s first featuring trips to the middle east.

Australia will need to make the best of a league-wide pre-season training camp in Dubai ahead of the new season’s commencement in that city this November.

“We’re starting to do a lot more sailing in the Middle East,” Australia coach Ben Durham told AAP.

“We’ll start looking to focus on those conditions and the new challenge.”

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