![MEMORIES: Sail GP champion Kyle Langford (centre) visiting his former primary school at Coal Point on Friday with current students Amelia Ovenden and Cooper Atkinson. Picture: Josh Callinan MEMORIES: Sail GP champion Kyle Langford (centre) visiting his former primary school at Coal Point on Friday with current students Amelia Ovenden and Cooper Atkinson. Picture: Josh Callinan](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/gNecaFSpqFSLkittedmeiY/3ec68d76-cb80-494e-8467-cb877dae26c2.jpg/r154_146_3456_2197_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
Lake Macquarie's Kyle Langford has won the America's Cup, recently claimed the inaugural SailGP series for Australia and will contest his second Sydney to Hobart next month.
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However, the 30-year-old sailor was presented with a completely new challenge on Friday when he returned to Coal Point Primary School for the first time since graduating almost two decades ago.
Amelia Ovenden and Cooper Atkinson were among the current students to see the spoils of Langford's latest success - a 2.5 kilogram sterling silver and 24-carat gold plated trophy.
"I haven't spent a lot of time with a bunch of five to 12 year olds before so it's pretty daunting, but it was awesome to see their enthusiasm for sailing and the trophy," Langford, who grew up nearby the school, told the Newcastle Herald.
He has signed up once more with team green and gold to defend the title in season two, which opens in Sydney on February 28 and 29, and he hopes the concept is here to stay.
"This is the only international sailing competition, which is at the peak of technology where you're actually representing your country," he said.
"I think that makes it a massive drawcard."
Langford, who bases himself in Sweden, lives a largely nomadic lifestyle these days pursuing a career in sailing after starting out as a child on the waters around Coal Point, Toronto and Wangi Wangi.
"My parents sailed and my grandparents, on both sides, sailed so we were always on the boat out on the lake," he said. "They're all pretty cool memories and back then it was all for fun."
Langford leaves the country next week but returns for a ride on Comanche in this year's Sydney to Hobart from December 26.
Outside an expanded SailGP campaign in 2020, he has also confirmed a spot in the round-the-world Ocean Race for 2021-22.
The SailGP Championship trophy tour started in Gosford on Wednesday courtesy of Aussie skipper and Olympic gold medalist Tom Slingsby.