Aussie Cup squad

Collectively, the sailors have four Olympic Games appearances, nine senior America’s Cup campaigns, 24 world championship titles and 13 SailGP championship titles between them.

Slingsby, Newton and Fowler were members of ORACLE TEAM USA’s victorious 2013 America’s Cup campaign, while the squad also includes Olympic, offshore and skiff champions.

The announcement follows a week-long simulator training block on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in August, where the sailors tested crew combinations, communications and race scenarios while developing the collective decision-making required aboard an AC75.

Slingsby is a two-time Olympian and London 2012 gold medallist, nine-time world champion, three-time World Sailor of the Year and three-time SailGP champion.

He is joined by two-time Olympian and Rio 2016 silver medallist Jason Waterhouse; SailGP champion and two-time age-group world champion Tash Bryant; 2025 JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff World Champion Tom Needham; and three-time America’s Cup campaigner and Volvo Ocean Race winner Luke Parkinson.

Completing the squad are 2013 America’s Cup winners and three-time SailGP champions Sam Newton and Kinley Fowler. Newton is also an eight-time JJ Giltinan 18ft Skiff World Champion.

“It is an incredibly proud moment to announce this elite group of sailors who will represent Team Australia in our campaign for the 38th America’s Cup,” Slingsby said.

“We set out to bring together the strongest possible Australian sailing team, and I believe we have done just that.

This group includes Olympic medallists, America’s Cup winners, world champions and SailGP champions, but just as importantly, every sailor has been selected for the specific qualities they can bring to an AC75 campaign.

“We have proven winners alongside some of Australia’s most exciting emerging foiling and technical talent. Each sailor brings a different strength, from racecraft and flight control to engineering, systems and campaign experience.”

Slingsby said the simulator program had given the newly assembled team an opportunity to begin developing the communication and instincts required aboard the high-speed foiling AC75.

We made strong progress, but selection is only the beginning,” he said. “There is an enormous amount of work ahead to ensure we represent Australia at our very best.”

The 38th America’s Cup introduces significant changes to AC75 racing. For the first time in the competition’s history, each race crew must include at least one female sailor, while battery-powered systems will replace the cyclors previously used to generate hydraulic power.

Team Australia represents Sydney’s Royal Prince Edward Yacht Club, whose challenge was accepted in May as the sixth entry for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup.

Backed by John Winning jr and family, the campaign is headed by CEO and Australia II crew member Grant Simmer, with Slingsby leading the sailing team and three-time America’s Cup winner Glenn Ashby serving as Head of Performance and Design.

Team Australia’s 2027 campaign will move into competition with the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series in May. The successful challenger will progress to face Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup Match in July.

Australian fans will be able to follow the Road to Naples live through Kayo Sports and Foxtel under a recently announced broadcast agreement covering the Preliminary Regattas, Challenger Selection Series, Women’s America’s Cup, Youth America’s Cup and Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Match.

The America’s Cup was first contested in 1851 and remains international sailing’s most prestigious trophy.

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