From feeding cows to racing an F50: A chat with SailGP super-sub Glenn Ashby

“Glenn Ashby, there you were minding your own business feeding your cows and then you get the call-up to join Australia’s BOND Flying Roos SailGP team in Perth.”

Andy Rice catches up with farmer-by-day Glenn to chat about his last-minute ‘super-sub’ role, filling in for the injured Iain ‘Goobs’ Jensen on Australia’s F50 crew.  

As Glenn explains, following a phone call from Tom Slingsby and a hastily arranged flight the following morning, he found himself making two practice starts before pitching in to race in the 2026 SailGP season opener. He describes the physical demands of being thrown into an F50 – “I discovered muscles I didn’t know I had!” – for what he describes as “supercharged” sail racing.

Glenn also tells us about his return to Coogee and a happy reunion with fellow Olympics silver medallist partner Darren Bundock for the F18 World Championships this coming weekend. Will he be just catching up with an old mate or might he be racing for the podium? Let’s wait and see.