France surprised everyone in Sassnitz, clinching the Baltic Sea stage. This was not only a surprise because they had an accident during the warm-up session on Friday before the races even began but also because they weren't even among the favourites due to their recent performances.
The first race was won by the local team, raising the event's energy to its peak, but gradually, the performance of Erik Heil's team began to deflate.
The second race was taken by the British team, with the French finishing second. In the third, the Danish team, Rockwool Denmark, secured victory and even set a new speed record at 103.93 km/h; behind them were the BOND Flying Roos led by star Tom Slingsby. In the fourth and final race of day one, the Black Foils, with Peter Burling at the helm, took the win.
The fourth race also saw an incident between the United States and the British team, resulting in a 12-point penalty for the American team and doubts for the team led by Dylan Fletcher. However, thanks to excellent teamwork, the British team managed to continue competing.
Tom Slingsby's team started strong after Saturday and maintained consistency on Sunday, placing themselves at the top of the table before the final qualifying race. France and Great Britain were close behind, while Germany, after their brilliant win in the first race, had slipped a bit due to mistakes at the starts.
In the following two races, the fifth and sixth, the British dominated after repairing their boat, with the Australians finishing second and then third.
In the overall fleet, the French, British, and Australians had to compete for the spot in the final to determine who would take the German stage.
Finally, the grand final pitted France, Great Britain, and Australia in a spectacular showdown. The French crew, led by Quentin Delapierre, sailed with precision and bravery, withstanding the constant pressure from the British and Australians.
Despite the efforts of Dylan Fletcher and his team, a small mistake caused them to lose their advantage, allowing France to take the lead for good. The French victory was met with a massive celebration aboard, while the British and Australians completed the podium with performances that demonstrated consistency and resilience.
Quentin Delapierre commented after the win: “It’s an amazing feeling. It’s been a while since we won a Grand Prix and this sensation is incredible. The conditions were tricky and ever-changing, but we just enjoyed every moment. The team did an amazing job to get the boat ready after Friday’s accident.”
Italy had a disappointing performance, finishing third-to-last, just ahead of the United States, who were penalised, and the Brazilian team, who could not participate due to an accident during the warm-up session.
In the overall standings, Australia and New Zealand are tied in first place with 61 points, followed by Great Britain with 58 points, France with 56 points, and Germany with 47 points.
The next event, the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez, is scheduled for September 12 and 13, 2025. France will seek to repeat its victory, and the other teams will aim to challenge them in the Mediterranean Sea.
Additionally, it has been confirmed that Sassnitz will return to the SailGP calendar in 2026 and 2027, solidifying its status as an iconic venue for high-speed sailing in the Baltic Sea.
