The Baltic port of Sassnitz, on the island of Rügen, will stage the Germany Sail Grand Prix for the first time on 16 and 17 August 2025. More than 13,000 spectators are expected to pack the Race Stadium, with grandstands and premium viewing areas stretching along the town’s harbour wall, offering a front-row seat to watch 12 F50s hurtle across the water.
For German helm Erik Heil, the occasion is a milestone in his career. “Sassnitz brings a different kind of pressure because the whole sailing and racing community will be here to see us,” he said. “I’d rather have more pressure than less – it sharpens the focus. We might not have a venue advantage, but we will have an emotional one.” After an 11th-place finish in Portsmouth, Heil is determined to deliver a stronger result in front of home fans.
Adding star power to the weekend will be Sebastian Vettel, Germany’s four-time Formula 1 world champion and co-owner of the national SailGP Team since 2023. Speaking to Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Vettel recalled his first experience on an F50 during a training session off the Californian coast more than two years ago.
“I thought it was brilliant,” he said. “People told me, ‘It’s not that fast for you, nothing special’. On the contrary – speed on water is completely different.” Vettel described the sensation as “really cool”, marvelling at the raw power of the wing sail and the acceleration through turns.
“I nearly fell off in the first corner,” he admitted with a laugh.
Vettel’s enthusiasm for the sport has helped raise the team’s profile, and his presence in Sassnitz is expected to draw even more interest from German fans.
Sassnitz’s position on the north-east tip of Rügen is known for producing flat water, and a forecast of up to 18 knots suggests perfect conditions for fast, tactical racing. Commentator Stevie Morrison believes the smoother sea state will make the boats easier to handle, allowing crews to push harder and sail faster, a recipe for thrilling action on the water.
Last month’s Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth saw New Zealand’s Black Foils, helmed by Peter Burling, claim victory and the overall season lead. They now sit on 54 points, ahead of Australia on 52 and Spain’s Los Gallos on 51, with only four points separating the top four teams. A penalty given to Australia in Portsmouth continues to spark debate and is likely to resurface in Sassnitz.
For this leg, Australia is the clear favourite to win, followed by New Zealand and then Spain. Racing runs from 3:30pm to 5:00pm CEST on both Saturday and Sunday, with the Race Stadium open from 1:30pm. Fans can also expect aerial displays, and there is talk of a surprise fly-by from a special guest on Sunday afternoon.
The Sassnitz event could prove pivotal in the 2025 standings, whether New Zealand extend their lead, Australia and Spain close the gap, or Germany turn home-crowd energy into a breakthrough result. What is certain is that the Baltic Sea is set for two days of world-class SailGP drama. The event can also be followed live via the SailGP app or on the official SailGP YouTube channel.
