There’s a moment before every race where everything narrows.

The dock is busy. Shore crews and safety teams are finalising checks. The F50s are ready for battle. Spectators are lining the shore. But once we step on board the Flying Roo, and enter the pre-start phase, the noise fades. It becomes just the six of us, the boat, and the racecourse.

That’s when trust becomes everything.

SailGP is decided in margins. We’re racing wingsailed foiling catamarans at speeds of more than 100km/h, in tight boundaries, with minimal separation between boats. Decisions are made in seconds, often less. There’s no time for hesitation.

As strategist, my role is to read the racecourse in real time; tracking wind shifts, tactical patterns, fleet positioning, boundary risks and timing windows to translate that into clear, decisive calls. The information flow is constant. The challenge is filtering it down to what matters most, exactly when it matters.

I’ve learned a huge amount in that space from Tom [Slingsby]. His ability to stay composed, simplify complex situations and back the team in critical moments sets the tone for all of us. He has an instinct for when to push and when to steady, and that clarity has helped shape how I approach my own decision-making. Being able to work alongside someone with that level of experience accelerates your growth quickly.

But even the best calls only work because of belief within the team. I know they trust my judgement though just as importantly, I trust each of them to execute under extreme pressure, both physically and mentally. Foiling manoeuvres at speed require absolute precision. There’s no room for half-commitment.

Our win in Auckland reinforced that.

It wasn’t just the result that mattered, but how we raced. We were cohesive. Calm under pressure. Clear in our communication. When moments tightened, no one overreached. Everyone executed their role.

That composure doesn’t happen by chance. Many of us have sailed together, or against each other, across Olympic campaigns, world championships and professional circuits. There’s a depth of understanding built over years of experience. We recognise each other’s cues. We know when to raise the energy, give it our all and when to steady it.

That collective belief is a competitive advantage.

SailGP is unforgiving. Respect is earned in results.

Now we return to Sydney Harbour. It’s no doubt one of the most iconic locations on the SailGP calendar, and so well-loved around the world. It’s also home waters for most of us in the BONDS Flying Roos SailGP Team.

The Sydney SailGP racecourse is dynamic. The shifts can be sharp, the breeze unstable off the headlands, and the racecourse boundaries compress decision-making even further. There’s nowhere to hide. You need clean starts, precise laylines and disciplined risk management.

But there’s also something special about racing here.

Many of us learned to sail on this harbour, some at only five years old. We’ve spent years reading its patterns and understanding the shifts. Competing in front of family, friends and a passionate Aussie crowd adds another layer of motivation but it also sharpens focus. We want to race well here and let’s face it, we want to win.

Heading into the KPMG Sydney Sail Grand Prix, there’s a quiet confidence within our group. Not arrogance, but belief.

We know what happens when we sail our own race. When communication is clear. When everyone commits fully to their role. When trust overrides noise.

That belief allows us to push harder, to take calculated risks and to respond faster under pressure.

In SailGP, where everything moves at speed, trust is the foundation that allows performance to thrive.

And that’s what keeps our crew moving forward.