SailGP: The Musical Chairs Game Continues Ahead of Season 5
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 12 Nov 16:30 PST
The Australia SailGP Team, helmed by Tom Slingsby, with Kyle Langford as wing trimmer, during Race Day 2 of the France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez, France © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
The SailGP teams are still playing Musical Chairs, just two weeks before Season 5 begins, starting with 11 teams in Dubai and expanding to a full roster of 12 in Auckland in mid-January.
The rumored departure of a key member from the Australian SailGP team has been confirmed, with three-time SailGP champion and America’s Cup winner Kyle Langford being the latest to leave, reportedly for an Italian destination.
Officially, SailGP League only notes that Langford has left his long-serving Australian team to “explore new opportunities.” In HR-speak, this phrase often means someone has been lured to a competing company. Typically, that “disloyal” employee finds their desk packed and is escorted from the premises.
However, Langford’s departure is likely a different scenario; the Australian team presumably urged him to stay, yet like some other SailGP sailors, he received an offer he couldn’t decline.
The figure behind this latest offer is believed to be his fellow Australian and two-time America’s Cup champion, Jimmy Spithill, who is leading a new Italian SailGP team, currently under wraps despite Season 5 commencing in just two weeks.
In an official statement, SailGP Australia confirmed:
Former Canada wing trimmer Chris Draper will join triple SailGP champions Australia in the first significant crew change since Season 2.
Draper takes the place of Australian mainstay Kyle Langford, who has departed the team to pursue ‘new opportunities.’
Draper joins after racing with multiple SailGP teams, including Great Britain in Season 1, Japan in Season 2, and Canada in Seasons 3 and 4. His experience includes numerous European and World Championship titles, an Olympic bronze medal in the 49er class, and various America’s Cup campaigns.
Australia’s driver Tom Slingsby stated that Draper’s appointment [in more corporate terms] ‘marks an exciting new chapter for our team.’
“This change is a valuable opportunity to introduce a fresh perspective, and Chris’s expertise, particularly in light wind conditions, will be crucial in enhancing our performance this season.”
Slingsby has retained the rest of the Australian lineup for the upcoming season, including flight controller Jason Waterhouse, grinders Kinley Fowler and Sam Newton, reserve grinder Ed Powys, strategist Natasha Bryant, and reserve strategist Nina Curtis.
Ben Durham also returns as head coach to assist in shaping the team’s strategy and development.
In paying tribute to Langford, Slingsby remarked that he had been ‘an invaluable part of our team from the beginning.’
“We appreciate his contributions to our success and wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors.”
Commenting on the transfer phase, Slingsby noted ‘it’s natural for other teams to attempt to recruit our athletes.’
“This reflects the strong team culture we’ve developed, and I’m thrilled we managed to retain most of our squad, many of whom have been with me since the inception of SailGP.”
