Sailor Tom Slingsby is confident Australia can re-compete in the America's Cup. Photo / Getty
Sailor Tom Slingsby is confident Australia can re-compete in the America's Cup. Photo / Getty
America's Cup winner Tom Slingsby is hunting for sponsor backing as he attempts to re-launch Australia II in the America's Cup.
Thirty four years on from Australia II's win in 1983, one of the country's greatest sporting moments, Slingsby is confident an all-Aussie team could do it again.
"If we got a team together everyone in the world could know we would be one of the hardest to beat," the Olympic champion told Mercury.
Slingsby won the Auld Mug with Oracle in 2013 under Australian two-time winning skipper Jimmy Spithill and raced last year when New Zealand regained the Cup with a crew lead by Australian Glenn Ashby.
Slingsby, who holds multiple world titles, said he has the contacts to pull together a "dream team," but says Australia needs to act quickly before they are snatched by rivals.
"There has been interest but we just need one to make that leap of faith.
"It's about one big fish coming in . . . then everyone will follow. Someone [to] believe in what we could do and getting behind us and getting a whole country [behind us].
Team Oracle was skippered by Tom Slingsby in 2013. Photo / Getty
Slingsby said the immense amount of talent within Australia would mean the all-Australian team could include both men and women.
"The last America's Cup was all about power to weight ratio and all our grinders were 98 kilos, but with more traditional sailing we will need lighter and women could be an option with their tactical ability and steering expertise," he said.
"I would like to see a woman sailing. It is an old boys club."
Slingsby's long-term goal would be to see the America's Cup fought in the Sydney Harbour and to see a Bledisloe Cup-style competition battle with New Zealand raced in the lead up to the Cup.
