Slingsby: Jackman and Reynolds ownership news is ‘unbelievable’ for Aussie team and SailGP

June 10, 2025

Article courtesy of SailGP

by Miranda Blazeby

Tom Slingsby, driver of the freshly rebranded BONDS Flying Roos, has described the team’s ownership takeover by global icons Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds as ‘unbelievable’.

Speaking at a pre-event press conference ahead of racing in New York this weekend, Slingsby reacted to the announcement, which sees the Australian team move into private ownership with a fresh identity.

“It’s unbelievable when you think back five years ago when new started this journey, but here we are five years later and our owners are Hugh Jackman and Ryan Reynolds and we’ve partnered with an unbelievable, iconic Australian brand BONDS – it’s such an exciting new chapter we’re starting.”

SailGP managing director Andy Thompson agreed, describing the ownership takeover as ‘transformational’, not only for the Australian team but for ‘the league more broadly’.

Reflecting on the deal, Thompson revealed that ‘a group came together around Ryan Reynolds and Huge Jackman’ with the league and proposition group talking ‘for some months’.

“Finally, we were able to bring it together ahead of this event.”

He described Jackman as a ‘true blue Aussie’ who ‘really loves his sailing’ while Reynolds has ‘had a pretty significant impact on other sports teams in recent times’.

“We’re really excited to see what energy this new group can bring – it will be fantastic for the whole league.”

The news comes after Red Bull Italy announced its own star-studded new ownership group just last week, led by Hollywood icon Anne Hathaway.

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