Central Coast sailor Tom Slingsby has been inducted into the Australian Sailing Hall of Fame, acknowledging his exceptional performance and contribution at the highest level to the sport.
The announcement was made at the recent 2023 Australian Sailing Awards, where the Australia SailGP team, for which Slingsby is driver, was named Team of the Year.
Team coach Ben Durnam was crowned Coach of the Year due to his impressive results and dedication to the Women’s Pathway Program.
The annual awards recognise achievements within the sport and acknowledge members of the Australian sailing community.
This year, more than 30 finalists were recognised across the nation with 15 different categories on the night.
Slingsby said it was an honour to be recognised by Australian Sailing not only for his personal achievements, but for the team’s success at SailGP, where it has enjoyed a good run over the past three seasons.
“None of this would be possible without the amazing coaches I have had over the years who have given up their time and leadership to help shape me to be the sailor I am today,” he said.
“I’d like to thank the organisers for this recognition and my fellow Australia SailGP teammates for continuing to push the boundaries in the sport and congratulate our coach Ben for his well-deserved accolade.”
The award wins are just the beginning for the Australian SailGP team, with the team recognised as a finalist for Team of the Year and Tom Slingsby up for Male Sailor of the Year at the World Sailing awards, to be announced on November 14.
The Australian SailGP team is currently competing in Season 4 of the SailGP championship, sitting top of the table as it looks to defend its title.
Tickets are now on sale for the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix, Sydney at SailGP.com/Sydney.