SailGP is preparing for a landmark weekend on Lake Geneva. Today and tomorrow the foiling catamarans take to the water in Switzerland, home of Rolex, the competition’s principal sponsor, for what will be the league’s first event ever staged on an inland European lake.
The anticipation surrounding the Swiss debut extends beyond the spectacle itself, framed by the Alps and the city’s waterfront turned into a technical base, to the news shaping SailGP’s future. Chief among these is the return of Sweden to the league with the newly announced Artemis SailGP Team, powered by Artemis Racing owner Torbjörn Törnqvist and led by one of the sport’s most accomplished figures, Nathan Outteridge.
The Australian, nicknamed the ‘wind whisperer’ for his ability to read shifts and extract speed in the lightest of breezes, has collected world titles, Olympic gold and America’s Cup campaigns. Yet the SailGP trophy still eludes him. After several years away from the circuit, he returns at the helm determined to restore Sweden to prominence and rekindle the nation’s proud sailing heritage.
Attention now shifts to the host nation of this tenth event of the season. The Switzerland SailGP Team carries the pressure of performing in front of a home crowd after finishing last in the curtailed Saint-Tropez event, which left them seventh in the standings with 26 points. For driver Sébastien Schneiter, Geneva represents the highlight of the year: “If there was one race we wanted to win, it was this one. The motivation of racing at home changes everything.”
Today’s practice session hinted at the challenges to come. With winds barely reaching 10 km/h, crews had to adapt to near-minimum power conditions. Forecasts suggest a weekend of light, shifting breezes, the kind that can turn races into a constant exchange of places.
Among the favourites, Australia arrives determined to put things right after finishing only fifth in France, a result that dropped them to third overall. Driver Tom Slingsby admitted the team fell short of their usual standards but insisted confidence remains high: “Our standard is such that we call a fifth place a bad event. We know we are a top team. We made mistakes and we paid for them. Now it’s about fixing those issues and getting back into the top three here.”
For the three-time SailGP champion, the swift turnaround between events is a blessing: “It’s good to race again so soon, it doesn’t give you time to dwell. If we sail the way we know we can, we’ll be in the fight for the podium.”
Spectators will have plenty to enjoy across both days. The Race Stadium opens at 14:30 CEST with big screens, food, music and entertainment, while racing is scheduled between 15:30 CEST and 17:00 CEST. The top three teams will then advance to Sunday’s winner-takes-all final to decide the champion of the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.
With local support behind the Swiss, Outteridge’s Swedish comeback on the horizon and the ambitions of Australia, Great Britain and New Zealand, Lake Geneva is set to deliver an unforgettable debut. A fresh stage, shifting winds and the energy of a home crowd promise a weekend where anything could happen.
