Where better for the SailGP championship leading team from Australia, the Bonds Flying Roos, to kick off the weekend than the classic Australian bar Old Mates?
There are few things New York does better than turning a regular weeknight into the beginning of something bigger. This weekend, it would be the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on May 30 and 31. Luckily, I had the amazing opportunity to kick off the race weekend with SailGP’s Australian team, the BONDS Flying Roos. You’d expect my story to begin there, but rather, it began earlier that evening at the New York Yacht Club, catching up with a friend who was catching me up on all of the SailGP excitement from the past few events. As I was brushing up on my sailing knowledge, in walked the Italian racing team, taking a tour of the historic facilities, and that’s when I realized this niche event was far bigger than I realized, and signs of the excitement to come this weekend were everywhere.
I quickly headed downtown to the classic Australian mainstay Old Mates, where the Flying Roos were kicking off the race weekend, bringing together guests for drinks, light bites, and a chance to celebrate one of the league’s most successful teams before they took to the water. In true Australian fashion, I was greeted with the sight of someone doing a “shoey.” Maybe it’s because I’m a fan of former F1 driver Daniel Ricciardo, but to me, no Australian race weekend is complete without a shoey, and luckily, there were quite a few that night, setting the tone for the camaraderie and revelry the team and patrons indulged in for the event.
Photo by the Knockturnal
For the uninitiated, not much unlike myself not long before this event, SailGP is not your average sailing event. The league features national teams racing identical 50-foot foiling catamarans, high-tech boats capable of flying across the water at speeds exceeding 60 miles per hour. It is an exciting concoction that is equal parts sailing, engineering, national pride, and dynamic sporting energy, with athletes pushing boats faster than the wind at some of the world’s most recognizable venues.
The Flying Roos arrived in New York with some strong momentum, currently sitting at the top of the standings. Led by Tom Slingsby, the Australian team was fresh off a win in Bermuda, their third event title of the 2026 Rolex SailGP Championship. That success is nothing new for the team. The BONDS Flying Roos have long been one of SailGP’s benchmark programs, having won three consecutive championships in Seasons 1 through 3. Add in the fact that the team is co-owned by Ryan Reynolds and Hugh Jackman, and you get a rare combination of strong competitive edge along with a bit of Hollywood shine attached.
Photo by The Knockturnal
By the end of the night, the event had done what any good kickoff should do: it made the upcoming weekend feel worth paying attention to. I know I’ll certainly be tuning in for my first SailGP race this weekend, and rest assured, I’m rooting for the Flying Roos. If their recent form is any indication, they did not arrive in the city simply to celebrate. They arrived to win.
