American Magic brings in Tom Slingsby for the 37th America's Cup: The one-million-dollar man who can also do the America's Cup

He has brought luck and success to America's Cup chasers before: almost a decade ago, it was Australian Tom Slingsby who brought luck and success to Oracle Team USA alongside Sir Ben Ainslie. Back then, the two young, exceptional sailors were placed alongside the initially hapless skipper Jimmy Spithill in the 34th America's Cup as an exchange duo. The result was legendary. Cup fans still recognise it today as the greatest comeback in Cup history: Spithill, Ainslie, Slingsby and their team turned an 8-1 deficit into a 9-8 Cup win for the Americans against Emirates Team New Zealand off San Francisco in 2013. In terms of both the number of races and the number of racing days, it was the longest duel in Cup history.

Now the internationally courted Tom Slingsby has signed up with an American team again and will attack for the significantly strengthened campaign of the New York Yacht Club. "I'm really looking forward to my return to the America's Cup," says the 37-year-old down-to-earth and helpful Australian with an unbeatable feel for technically demanding boats. In 2024, the 2012 Laser Olympic champion wants to win the America's Cup off Barcelona with Team American Magic. His announcement will be taken more than seriously by the competition: "I'm looking forward to doing all I can to support my team in bringing the trophy back to the USA and the New York Yacht Club. We have world-class talent on board and ashore. I am proud to be a part of this team."

Team American Magic was founded by team bosses Doug DeVos, Roger Penske and Hap Fauth and has already competed in the 36th America's Cup. Now the Americans want to go one better and bring the "bottomless jug" back to where it has spent most of its time since the Cup première in 1851. Tom Slingsby wants to help and is one of the most qualified sailors on the planet to do so. Born on 5 September 1984 in Wahroonga, Australia, the five-time Laser world champion and king of the Moth sailors discovered the sport relatively late in life. His passion was sparked while watching the 2000 Olympic regatta in Sydney Harbour. He was already a teenager at the time. After that, it was always uphill. Sometimes so steep that he could hardly believe it himself. He was voted World Sailor of the Year twice (2010, 2021). He has just won the SailGP final for the second time and another one million US dollars for his Australian SailGP team, to which he remains committed despite the new Cup commitment.

Terry Hutchinson, American Magic's skipper and sailing team boss, is naturally delighted with the prominent and powerful new addition. "As a former Cup winner, Tom knows what it takes to reach the top. He has shown exceptional ability in foiling yachts. His skills will be an outstanding weapon for American Magic on the way to the top." In addition to Slingsby, the British Laser Olympic champion and multiple world champion Paul Goodison is also in action for the Americans. Their declared goal is the 29th American victory in Cup history. The 37th edition of the Cup will take place in 2024 in the Spanish waters off Barcelona.