A great deal of Laser sailors choose to train this week for the Olympic Test Event and Regatta in Weymouth. But not the defending World Champion Tom Slingsby from Australia. He’s competing at the Delta Lloyd Regatta in Medemblik. “I was very surprised to hear that so many of my opponents aren’t here. “
For the Australian sailor this regatta is important. Because of the competition in his country he needs a World Cup Regatta victory to qualify for the Olympic Trials. “It’s important for me to win a Regatta and so far I’ve been 2nd , 3rd and 3rd this year.”
Due to the good results earlier this year Slingsby is tied with Nick Thompson in the World Cup ranking. But winning the overall World Cup isn’t his main objective for this year. “Performing well at The Olympic Test Event and defending my Worlds title in Perth are my goals this season.”
“The Delta Lloyd Regatta is one of my favorites. It’s the sixth or seventh time here for me. The first time I realy didn’t know where I was. They told me Medemblik was near Amsterdam, but if you’re from Australia everything in Holland is near Amsterdam.”
Tom Slingsby is performing well at this years Medemblik Regatta. He’s number one in the overall Laser ranking after winning race number five. Brazilian sailor Bruno Fontes is second, right before number three, Milan Vujasinovic from Croatia.
Watch the videointerview after the race with Tom Slingsby.
