SAN DIEGO (AP) — Australian sailor Tom Slingsby has re-signed with America’s Cup champion Oracle Team USA, the first big development in the buildup to the next regatta.
The 29-year-old Olympic gold medalist served as strategist for Oracle, which pulled off one of the greatest comebacks in sports when it won eight straight races against Emirates Team New Zealand on San Francisco Bay in September to retain the silver trophy.
Slingsby is expected to play a bigger role for Oracle in the 35th America’s Cup, serving as tactician and backup helmsman. He’ll replace Ben Ainslie, an Olympic star who is trying to launch a British challenge.
Slingsby says he was contacted by the Australian challenger, but that Oracle provides him with the best opportunity.
