Australia’s Laser legend, Tom Slingsby, tells World Sailing what it’s like getting back into Olympic racing after six years out, how the weight-gain diet to compete with the Finn giants has been going, and whether his America’s Cup plans are really over for this cycle.

Tom Slingsby is enjoying the chance to race in the Finn. PHOTO: Beau Outteridge

What’s brought you back here to the World Championships?

Well, fortunately the Australian Sailing federation has given me the opportunity to race against the best in the world.

Unfortunately, I haven’t had enough time, I’ve only been able to train for a couple of weeks at a time. So far we’ve had shifty, unpredictable conditions, which is good for me I guess.

How’s the weight gaining programme going, you were 88kg a couple of months ago?

I’ve been trying to put on weight. I’m 91kg, most of the guys are around 100kg. If it’s light and shifty stuff I could be pretty good, but the forecast is for stronger and stronger winds.

How many times have you been in the Finn before?

I spent a month and half in the Finn last year and did Sail Melbourne but didn’t have any sailing after that.

Is this a serious push for Tokyo 2020 or more keeping your eye in?

It’s only keeping my eye in. I’ve only planned to the end of this regatta. I’ll make some decisions after this. I’m just enjoying racing again.

"It is tricky for me coming back into it." PHOTO: Beau Outteridge

Has it been hard psychologically coming back not at the top of the fleet?

It is tricky for me coming back into it. If I had just finished a Laser Olympic campaign and moved to the Finn, I’d be doing well but I haven’t been a Laser for six years. I’ve been sailing foiling boats ever since then. There are things I’ve forgotten after being on America’s Cup boats. This is the first time I’ve been fleet racing since the London Olympics.

I’ve been match racing and here we’re in a big fleet. And I’m not in the position in the fleet I’m used to. Even the worst guys in this fleet are extremely good. These guys are just sailing the Finn day in, day out.

Is your bid to create an Australian America’s Cup campaign for this cycle definitely over?

Yes, unfortunately we weren’t able to secure enough money for us to do Australian campaign.

Would you join another campaign (Slingsby was part of past two Oracle Team USA campaigns)?

At this stage I won’t be competing in this America’s Cup campaign.

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AUSTRALIAN TEAM AND SQUAD RESULTS

Finn

Oliver Tweddell – 11 – 21st

(Tom Slingsby) – 11 – 21st

Jake Lilley – 20 – 39th

Lewis Brake – 34 – 67th

Jock Calvert – 44 – 87th

470M

Mat Belcher/Will Ryan – 3 – 5th

Chris Charlwood/Josh Dawson – 19 – 37th

470W

Nia Jerwood/Monique de Vries – 35, 16 – 28th

Dana Tavener/Katherine Shannon – 27, 41 – 36th

Laser

Tom Burton

Matt Wearn

Mitch Kennedy

Luke Elliott

Finn Alexander

Laser Radial

Mara Stransky

Elyse Ainsworth

Zoe Thomson

49er

David Gilmour/Joel Turner

Will Phillips/Iain Jensen

Lachy Gilmour/Ryan Donaldson

Kurt Hansen/Harry Morton

49erFX

Tess Lloyd/Jaime Ryan

Amelia Stabback/Ella Clark

Natasha Bryant/Annie Wilmot

Nacra 17

Jason Waterhouse/Lisa Darmanin

Nathan Outteridge/Haylee Outteridge

Paul Darmanin/Lucy Copeland

Conor Nicholas/Hayley Clark

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