Team Australia Unveils Elite Australian Seven-Sailor Team for the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup
Jason, Tom N, Kinley, Tash, Sam, Luke, Tom S
The following media release has been supplied by Team Australia and includes America’s Cup news for AFLOAT Magazine readers.
Team Australia have unveiled an elite Australian sailing team featuring Olympic medallists, America’s Cup winners, world champions and SailGP champions to spearhead the nation’s return to the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup in Naples in 2027.
Led by Head of Sailing Tom Slingsby OAM, the seven-strong team brings together some of the world’s most accomplished sailors across Olympic, America’s Cup, SailGP, offshore, skiff and international foiling competition.
The Australian team comprises Luke Parkinson, Tash Bryant, Tom Needham, Jason Waterhouse, Sam Newton and Kinley Fowler. It will be the first time any of the seven sailors has challenged for the America’s Cup representing Australia.
Collectively, the team brings experience from four Olympic Games appearances and nine senior America’s Cup campaigns, alongside 24 world championship titles and 13 SailGP championship titles. The line-up includes three members of ORACLE TEAM USA’s victorious 2013 America’s Cup crew – Slingsby, Newton and Fowler – as well as Olympic, offshore, skiff and international foiling champions.
The announcement follows a week-long simulator training block on Sydney’s Northern Beaches in August. The sailors tested crew combinations, communication systems and race scenarios while developing the shared decision-making required to race an AC75.
Slingsby is a two-time Olympian, 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 team 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.
Tom Slingsby, Team Australia Head of Sailing, said: “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.
“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.
“Our first simulator block allowed us to test combinations, sharpen our communication and begin building the shared instincts we’ll need aboard the AC75. We made strong progress, but selection is only the beginning. There is an enormous amount of work ahead to ensure we represent Australia at our very best.”
For the first time in America’s Cup history, each AC75 race crew must include at least one female sailor. The boats will also use battery-powered systems, placing greater emphasis on sailing skill, strategy and flight control.
Team Australia represents the 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 led by Chief Executive Officer and Australia II crew member Grant Simmer, alongside Slingsby and three-time America’s Cup winner Glenn Ashby, Head of Performance and Design.
The Road to Naples for Team Australia will begin with the Louis Vuitton Cup Challenger Selection Series in May 2027, with the successful challenger progressing to face Defender Emirates Team New Zealand in the America’s Cup Match in July.
Team Australia has also confirmed Kayo Sports and Foxtel as its official Australian broadcast partners last week. Every race on the Road to Naples will be shown live, including the Preliminary Regattas, Challenger Selection Series, Women’s America’s Cup, Youth America’s Cup and the Louis Vuitton 38th America’s Cup Match. Fans can also follow Team Australia’s journey on Instagram and Facebook @teamaustraliachallenge.
Founded in 1851, the America’s Cup is the oldest continually contested trophy in international sport and the pinnacle of international yacht racing.
This media release has been supplied by Team Australia. For more America’s Cup, sailing and international yacht racing news, visit the AFLOAT News section.
