Tom's role
Date of Birth: Sept. 5, 1984
Place of Birth: Sydney, Australia
Nationality: Australia/USA
Position/responsibility: Tactics
Aged 16, Tom Slingsby gave up a promising tennis career to devote himself full time to sailing. Up until that point he had raced with his father and his older sisters, but he had been committed to tennis.
“Tennis was my favorite sport, I used to train five or six days a week,” says Tom. “But I also wasn’t sure what I wanted to do. I started training in the Laser and after three months of doing that I finished first at the (Australian) Nationals. I’d finished 61st the year before.”
It’s safe to say his career has skyrocketed in the past 12 years. In 2010 Tom was voted the International Sailing Federation’s Rolex World Sailor of the Year Award and he’s won six world championships. He’s also the world’s No.1-ranked Laser sailor leading up to the 2012 Olympic Regatta in England.
“I’m undefeated at the Olympic venue, have won four out of four events there,” Tom says. “I haven’t finished outside of the top three in 2011, so I’m in a good position with less than a year to go.”
On the racecourse Tom is well regarded for his ability to read the wind. He joined ORACLE Racing in October 2011 as a tactician.
“I’ve got a small background in catamarans, did the 2009 A Class Worlds,” says Tom. “But I try to sail any type of boat I can get on and the AC45 is really good. It’s challenging in every aspect: physicality, technical, mental… it’s a whole new world for me.”
Career Highlights
2011: Joins ORACLE Racing (October)
America’s Cup World Series San Diego Match Racing Championship, 6th place
America’s Cup World Series San Diego Fleet Racing Championship, 9th place
Australian Male Yachtsman of Year
ISAF Sailing World Cup Series Perth, Laser, winner
ISAF Sailing World Cup Series Weymouth, Laser, winner
Devoti ONE World Champion
2010: ISAF Rolex Male World Sailor of Year
Laser World Champion (previously 2007, ’08)
Farr 40 Worlds – Transfusion, 2nd
Etchells World Champion (with skipper John Bertrand, AUS)