When you want to be the best, you have to learn from the best.

And, that’s what a number of promising local youngsters just did on Saturday 27 November when America’s Cup winner – and Belmont boy – Kyle Langford took part in the Lake Macquarie leg of SailGP Championship Trophy Tour at the Wangi Amateur Sailing Club.

The defending SailGP champion – along with two-time Olympic medallist and fellow Lake Macquarie lad Nathan Outteridge – popped in to visit his “hometown” with the impressive 24-carat gold-plated, sterling silver trophy, ahead of the start of season two of SailGP, which begins on the iconic Sydney Harbour on Friday 17 and Saturday 18 December.

“It’s so good to be back home at Lake Macquarie with my family after a long stint living in Sweden,” Langford said.

“There is nothing like Australia.

“I have been spending every day sailing out on the lake with some of the guys from SailGP, including our skipper Tom Slingsby.”

Langford admitted he had fond memories of the area.

“I’ve been fortunate to travel all around the world, however Lake Macquarie is still my favourite place,” he said.

“I remember sailing [here] in my little Sabot boat.

“I’d go sailing every day after school with my brother, who was a few years older than me.

“He actually got into the sport first – and enticed me into it [at the Toronto Sailing Club] at the age of four.”

Lake Macquarie was the second stop on the regional tour, which sees the season one-winning Australia team take the SailGP Championship trophy on the road over the next month.

Langford hosted a talk and training session with Wangi Amateur Sailing Club members, sharing the successes and challenges he has experienced as an athlete and his journey to becoming the wing trimmer of the Australia SailGP Team.

He said it was important to inspire the next generation of sailors.

“Visiting the kids at Wangi was just awesome,” Langford told the Newcastle Weekly.

“It’s really important that we engage with them and show them the career pathways that are available, like SailGP. 

“I also wanted to repay the support that I’ve had from the people of Wangi and Lake Macquarie by bringing the trophy home to celebrate with the community.

“It’s played a crucial role in shaping who I am – and that supported my childhood dreams of sailing professionally.

“I would’ve loved to have had the opportunity to see my sailing hero Chris Nicholson growing up and chat to him about how he got into the sport.

“So, it’s really crucial that we continue the legacy of sailing.

“And, if we can encourage kids to get involved in the sport, too, that’s a bonus.”

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