Australia SailGP Team touchdown on Sydney Harbour
by Australia SailGP Team 16 Feb 07:24 GMT
18-19 February 2023
Australia SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby in action during a practice session ahead of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix in Sydney, Australia © Chloe Knott for SailGP
Ahead of this weekend's KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney, all nine national teams competing in the ninth event of Season 3 of the global league hit Sydney Harbour today for practice racing.
Most eager were Tom Slingsby and the Australia SailGP Team, the two-time SailGP champions, who are currently at the top of the leaderboard and ready to defend their title in front of a home crowd on home waters.
The Aussies are ready for battle and are aiming to replicate last year's memorable victory on Sydney Harbour and further cement their enviable position.
With nine points between Australia and their key rival, Peter Burling's New Zealand SailGP Team, the Aussies are well-placed to make it a hat-trick of titles with favourable wind conditions forecast for the weekend.
The KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney takes place on Saturday and Sunday 18-19 February with two days of racing on Sydney Harbour, one of the most challenging courses in the league. The official press conference will take place tomorrow morning at 9am local time.
Today also marks the announcement of a groundbreaking new 10-season partnership between Rolex and SailGP that will see the iconic brand extend the relationship as the global presenting partner and the exclusive official timepiece of the championship through to the end of Season 13.
Rolex has been the presenting partner since the launch of SailGP in 2018 and will become title partner for the Season 4 opening event, the Rolex United States Sail Grand Prix | Chicago at Navy Pier on 16-17 June 2023.
Rolex also continues as presenting partner of SailGP's ground-breaking docuseries Racing on the Edge. Season 3, Episode 7: Team & Nation was released earlier this week and goes behind the scenes of what makes Australian driver Tom Slingsby and the Australia team so successful.
A handful of spectator tickets remain for both days of racing this weekend. See here for the range of ticket options available, starting from $79.
To catch all the action on the water over the weekend, tune in to 7+, 7mate, Kayo Sports or Fox Sports from 4pm-5:30pm on both racing days - to find out more, go to sailgp.com/watch.