Interview

Interview: Sam Newton

Sam Newton grew up in Hunters Hill and now enjoys a career as part of the national SailGP team. TVO asked Sam about his fascinating life on the seas, and his life here in our suburbs.

 Tell us a bit about your background....

I attended Hunters Hill primary school before moving onto Newington College for high school. In my 20s and 30s I moved overseas to race in the America’s Cup with Oracle Team USA in San Francisco and then Bermuda. Otherwise, I have never left Hunters Hill. My wife and I now own a house here where we are happily and proudly raising our two children.

 Explain SailGP to us…

SailGP is adrenaline-fueled sailboat racing. Eight international teams go head-to-head in iconic venues across the globe for a winner-takes-all $1 million prize. We race on hydro foiling catamarans called F50s - a cuttingedge one-design catamaran used by all SailGP teams. The boats are so identical that performance and results lie directly in the hands of the athletes. The F50 was the first boat to ever hit 50 knots (100km) during racing and has a predicted top speed of over 60 mph. 

You’re part of the SailGP Australian team. How did it come about?

I joined the Australian team for the start of the inaugural Sail GP event in Sydney in 2019 and have been a member of the team since. This season I will continue as a member of the team as we fight it out for the million dollar prize over the next eight events around the world.

 How would a local kid get into sailing?

Easy. Jump on the Hunters Hill Sailing Club website and click - Learn to Sail. The Tackers program is designed to get kids into our sport; it’s a fun, affordable way to get kids on the water. 

Do you have any standout memories of your time spent learning to sail in HH?

The greatest memories are certainly the friendships that were made; I still spend time with those mates today. I have dozens of great memories from sailing camps, inter-state regattas, Christmas parties and of sailing with my family in the early years. 

If SailGP doesn’t pay the bills, what does?

Sailing is my profession. Back in Sydney I am the Director of two other marine businesses with offices in local to the area: All Marine specialises in boat management and offers a range of yacht and sailboat rigging services whilst the other company Rolly Tasker Sails Australia is the exclusive sail distributor of the famous Australian sailmaker Rolly Tasker. 

Life for you in HH is very family-focused. In fact, your wife is well-known local face..

I met my wife Elizabeth in high school. We married quickly (after 10 years!) and we now have two young kids, aged four and one. Elizabeth owns and runs a fabulous local boutique and gift shop in Garibaldi Village called Wishbone Sydney. If you haven’t already, pop in for a shop and check out the local businesses in the village.

 What’s next on the SailGP agenda?

We are off to Toranto Italy in early June then on to four additional championships throughout Europe with the last race for 2021 hopefully taking place on Sydney Harbour (fingers crossed).