Those involved with sailing in Tasmania and Australia are more than familiar with the work of Jason Van Der Slot. He is deeply involved in the art of sailing and the sport of sailboat racing. He is a founding member of the Australian TP52 Association and is the founder of the TP52 Southern Cross Cup. “I have always loved sailing. From the time I was young to today, it is the one thing in my life that has remained the most constant. Because of all the joy that sailing has given me, I thought it was only right to try to give something back to that world, that community,” says Jason Van Der Slot.

Jason Van Der Slot began sailing when he only a young boy. His family, a collection of sailing enthusiasts themselves, helped to mold young Jason Van Der Slot into the sailing expert he is today. He spent years learning how to sail with his family. He took in all of the information that his young mind could process throughout the years. He learned everything there was to know about the family boat. He worked hard to gain an understanding of the mechanics of the boat, the sails, and every other component involved. He also worked hard to understand the physics behind sailing. He learned to understand how waves actually work, and what it takes to get the most out of a good breeze.

Jason Van Der Slot was fortunate enough to be born into the sailing hobby, but it was up to him to turn it into something more. Eventually, he would take his passion for sailboats and racing to help found the Australian TP52 Association. Jason Van Der Slot wanted to help turn a group of individual sailors with a common interest in TP52 yachts into a fully organized and officially recognized TP52 Class. This group now helps to promote TP52 racing, something that Jason Van Der Slot is also has a great deal of passion. In fact, he is so passionate about it that he even organized his own TP52 race. Known as the TP52 Southern Cross Cup, it has become quite popular amongst sailboat racers.