The Foil Podcast

First SailGP, now the America's Cup? The Aussies want it all | The Foil Podcast - Ep 19

The Foil Podcast

Show Notes

Australia have now won so many SailGP events that it's starting to look like the anomaly when they don't. Episode 19 of The Foil Podcast digs into a Bermuda Grand Prix that felt like the F50s finally getting to stretch their legs – flat water, proper breeze, big race course – and dissects exactly how Tom Slingsby's crew made it look so straightforward. Andy and Freddie walk through the racing day by day, from Spain's eye-catching foiling speed to the tactical shifts that shaped day two, and from Canada's pivotal error to the breakdown of the grand final itself.

There were other stories worth unpacking too. Glenn Ashby's ankle injury, Artemis's mechanical heartbreak and the thorny question of whether the current redress rules are fit for purpose all get proper airtime – as does Ryan Reynolds's first experience of F50 G-forces, which apparently left the Hollywood A-lister a bit rattled. Freddie also reflects on a bruising week with Gladiator in the TP52 Super Series opener, won ultimately by Sled after a tight last-day battle.

And then, just as Bermuda was neatly wrapped up, the news was finally made official: a new Australian entry for the America's Cup, backed by the Winning family – 18-foot skiff royalty from Sydney Harbour, now setting their sights on the oldest trophy in sport. Andy and Freddie give their first read on what it means and who might be on the boat. Read more at The Foil https://thefoil.com/news/australia-returns-to-the-america-s-cup-after-26-years-led-by-tom-slingsby/

This episode is brought to you by our friends at Musto, the brand that's been building performance sailing gear for decades, working directly with sailors pushing boats and themselves to the limit. We wear it ourselves, on and off the water.

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00:00:00 Start

00:01:34 SailGP travel & expensive pints

00:07:21 TP52 Super Series recap

00:10:18 SailGP Bermuda day one conditions and starts

00:15:46 Spain's aggressive foiling & speed advantage

00:22:02 Glenn Ashby's ankle injury

00:27:28 Ryan Reynolds and F50 G-forces

00:32:51 Artemis breakdown & redress rules

00:38:18 Boundary penalties & pushing the lay lines

00:45:43 Day two tactical changes in lighter winds

00:50:48 Canada's costly mistake

00:56:59 Australia's dominant race strategy

01:02:52 Breaking down the Bermuda final

01:07:03 Australia's historic SailGP dominance

01:11:42 Which teams left Bermuda disappointed?

01:18:26 New Australian America's Cup challenge Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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