Team Australia skipper Tom Slingsby overcame an error at the start and passed Team Japan's Nathan Outteridge approaching the penultimate mark to win the $1 million SailGP championship race Sunday in Marseille, France.

Slingsby steered his foiling F50 catamaran into the starting box a few seconds early, drawing a penalty and forcing him to start just behind his friend and rival Outteridge.

Outteridge tried to pinch off his countryman approaching the fourth gate but Slingsby sailed just clear and rounded onto the final leg ahead of Team Japan, which lost speed.

The Aussies clinched one of the biggest paydays in sailing history by 14 seconds and began a wild celebration, including drinking champagne out of the trophy.

Slingsby is an Olympic gold medalist and former America's Cup winner. Outteridge is an Olympic gold and silver medalist and an America's Cup veteran.