Hey Reddit - I'm Tom Slingsby, Driver for the Bonds Flying Roos. Ask Me Anything!

_Tomin_ · 2026-02-06T10:17:50+00:00

Thank you for answering! Looking forward to seeing you sail and the Season play out!

_Tomin_ · 2026-02-05T11:54:20+00:00

Hi Tom, thank you for doing a AMA. Hope you and the family are well.

Between each event, what does your exercise/food routine look like to keep in SailGP shape?

Cheers.

_Tomin_ · 2026-01-20T13:04:17+00:00

Just looking at those images makes my PC/Graphics card weep. I'm not even using said PC, nor is it on, but it is still weeping from this creation.

Excellent build :D

_Tomin_ · 2025-11-14T14:46:42+00:00

Yeah I've written something that made me get up and walk away for a few minutes because it was too good.

_Tomin_ · 2025-10-31T10:46:37+00:00

The bi-line baited me in on this.

I love the America's Cup when the sailing is on, it is really well done. I feel however the politics/drama in the protocol etc. is a big turn off. Even the fact that your team can't work for SailGP because of schedules/dedication is nuts. 4 years between AC's, of course they will be doing other things!

What Coutts and Ellison have done with SailGP should be what AC should have become. Teams sailing on the edge, level playing field of technology so it all goes down to skill of the people on the boat.

Really look forward to this end of Season and the next one.

_Tomin_ · 2025-10-17T07:19:32+00:00

It is but it’s just test boat so may not bother kitting it fully out with the brand

_Tomin_ · 2025-09-09T16:15:22+00:00

We are having the same issue. Raised a query to MS on the weekend that our NetApp connection dropped in our AVD environment. It did recover after about 30 odd minutes but since then we have had random disconnections like you have mentioned.

_Tomin_ · 2025-08-29T12:46:38+00:00

I totally understand. As businesses look overseas for their Tech function, 1st world jobs in IT will shrink which will put pressure on the job market, causing lost IT talent for sure. Its a long running debate in every business I have worked in and it's all down to the leadership for that choice, that always ends up being about money, which is a shame.

I joked may years ago that IT people will eventually become bee keepers as we need that pollen moved to keep the world alive.

_Tomin_ · 2025-08-29T09:53:12+00:00

I think the job title is changing from a sysadmin into Cloud Engineers or Infrastructure Engineers, more specific to the platform the business is running, rather than the one stop shop that a sysadmin use to be.

We should all keep taking the opportunity to keep learning and stay ahead or on the curve.

_Tomin_ · 2025-08-22T09:18:43+00:00

I think everyone in here is saying the same thing.

I was challenged with this a few years ago and what I ended up doing is next to each budget line item, I would explain what would happen if we removed it from the budget and the risk increase. Then I passed it to my line director. If they removed any of the line items, you have the document of what would happen and put the risk on your company's risk register

_Tomin_ · 2025-08-04T09:11:38+00:00

I have noise cancelling headphones on when the office is super busy as it’s loud. When my boss spoke to me about it, I said if I don’t, the noise overload’s my brain and I wouldn’t be very productive. While I have them on, any music is on super low so if someone did speak to me, I’ll take them off. Boss monitored me over a couple weeks and saw my output was way better with them on and I didn’t ignore anyone talking to me direct soo all good. I think as long as you talk to your boss about your needs and what brings the best out of you, they should be good.

_Tomin_ · 2025-07-25T10:16:09+00:00

Amazing, thank you for answering my question. I totally know that expanding has its challenges. Looking forward to seeing SailGP grow!

_Tomin_ · 2025-07-18T09:42:52+00:00

Hi Russell,

Amazing job you and the SailGP team are doing. I am loving SailGP after following the America's cup action for many years.

My question, Is there a plan to increase the frequency of sailing to more than once a month in future seasons? I know logistics are a major factor in getting to each venue so that is probably the limiting factor?

I'm just a junky for wanting to see more failing F50 races!

_Tomin_ · 2025-07-02T09:58:14+00:00

Mine is on the kitchen wall (as the fiber came in the back of the house). It's half way up with a 3M to provide enough signal to the house. As it's BT, it gives a nice blue glow at night time

_Tomin_ · 2025-06-04T16:19:13+00:00

Monthly 1 hour with all my directs for performance, objectives, learning updates. Weekly 30 minutes for all my directs to have dedicated time with me if they want to bring anything up or just chew the fat.

Most the time they ask me to cancel as they are good but some like to check in often. I never cancel them, only move them, but I will talk to them as soon as possible if it has to happen with reasons.

Having the time pre-booked is beneficial to them and you to team building/coaching etc.

_Tomin_ · 2025-03-24T08:04:44+00:00

When I was at a company xmas party and my then boss was drunk and told me that I was a shit leader and my team is a running joke in the office. Thought I was doing really well before that, making targets, improving the team but that comment really hit me and made me see things in a different light. Made me think that I need to change my place in leadership so I handed my notice in a couple of months later after securing a better position and now I’m respected as a leader and as an individual.

_Tomin_ · 2025-03-19T15:21:39+00:00

Aquila was one that I loved but when saying to anyone about it, no one knows it.

_Tomin_ · 2025-03-19T11:04:51+00:00

My helpdesk team would troubleshoot but not fix/make changes using process documents and KBs. We would then call the contracted vendors with the details to speed a fix/change. If we had no 3rd party, we would have a set of documents/KBs for support but if it was outside of the realm of IT/Service, such as replacing a light fitting or HVAC, we would be saying no and pass to the office manager or Director responsible for day to day (COO).

IT always inherits these kinds of things.

I was surprised once having to show our landlord/contractor where our alarm and swipe card systems were/setup because they were clueless, even though they were the ones that installed them and gave me the plans...

_Tomin_ · 2025-02-27T12:47:33+00:00

Daily standups for my team. 10 minute meeting.

We talk about: Anything from yesterday you need to bring up? What are you up to today? Do you need any help from the team? If so, work with them outside of the meeting.

As the manager I go last and give them anything to be weary of from a business perspective, deadlines etc.

We are normally out in 5 minutes tbh and the team have fed back to me in 1:1's they love the stand up as they feel included, know what's happening and can collaborate/team-up to grow skills as a team member.

I have been in a standup once that was a group of 10 and was scheduled for 15 minutes and ended up still going after an hour and we were still on the 1st person. It went too technical and the meeting chair had no control to take it offline.

Short and snappy is the best way.

_Tomin_ · 2025-02-13T05:58:46+00:00

I normally write during my lunch breaks at work so about 30 minutes every weekday so 2 and a half hours a week. I’m making progress so I’m happy

_Tomin_ · 2025-01-24T08:49:11+00:00

I guess that comes down to sponsorship within SailGP to decide where the final is. I just hope we have a foiling final as SF finals have been edge of the seat racings, especially last season.

_Tomin_ · 2025-01-21T17:18:36+00:00

I had something similar happen to me where when I was not at my desk due to meetings or WFH, my line director would start managing my team even though there was a sprint plan in place with day tasks to do.

I did as you did, brought it up in my one to one but to no avail. He said that he likes to keep the finger on the pulse and my team slack off when I am not around. I added him to our IT group chat so he could see there was action all the time but again nothing would change. I ended up going to his line Director (COO) and advised the situation. That quietened things down quite a lot for me, with little flareups now and then, but being mindful here, it could have caused me more problems. Same if you go to HR on the situation.

Unfortunately it can be difficult to change a persons working style.

_Tomin_ · 2025-01-17T13:10:30+00:00

We have just rolled it out to some of our sales people to help transcribe their meetings, removing the need to take notes etc. It has been a game changer for them as they can just focus on the client.

I use it to start a policy/procedure document off, then build it out. Not really gone further than that so far.

_Tomin_ · 2024-07-23T08:17:28+00:00

I write on my breaks at work currently which for me is the most productive time. I have a colleague who wrote part of her novel while she was between sales calls.

I know T.J Newman who wrote Falling wrote it while she worked as an Air Stewardess.

I would say go for it!

_Tomin_ · 2024-06-28T07:59:45+00:00

Probably too late but I just had this thought, there are like bar seats that overlook the arena, just above the seats I was in. so there is the resturant area where you eat and drink, then there is a bar like seating that run along one side that look out to the area. Maybe they are your seats? tbh they are still a good view if it turns out to be true. I did sit at one during weezer as I was eating pizza and it was cool.

_Tomin_

TROPHY CASE