Germany Makes History With First Event Win In Geneva
The Germany SailGP Team, presented by Deutsche Bank, wins their first-ever event at the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix
Published 09/21/2025
Germany SailGP Team, presented by Deutsche Bank, claimed their first-ever event win by edging out the BONDS Flying Roos on Day 2 of the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.
Hosts Switzerland made it to the Final with an impressive showing, going 5-2-8-7-2 across the weekend but could not get the better of Erik Heil’s crew in the Final on Lake Geneva.
U.S. SailGP Team CEO, Co-Owner and strategist Mike Buckley said in his Friday preview that driver Taylor Canfield was strong in non-foiling catamarans.
Those words proved prophetic as we went 4-4 in a reduced Sunday schedule that saw just two fleet races take place due to extremely light winds. As a result, teams went three up with high-speed rudders and the 24m all-purpose wind utilized.
Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix Finalists Swizterland, BONDS Flying Roos and Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank
Technical issues precluded Mubadala Brazil from competing, meaning just 11 teams lined up for Race 4 and 5.
The BONDS Flying Roos were out maneuvered at the start line by Los Gallos and forced to bail out to avoid a black flag. A blanket start had Germany SailGP Team, presented by Deutsche Bank, out in front approaching Mark 1 and once Erik Heil’s team got up and foiled, they never looked back despite the lack of wind.
With Germany home in 1st, Red Bull Italy followed in 2nd and ROCKWOOL Denmark in 3rd. The U.S. SailGP Team found a patch of wind in the final few hundred meters, nipping ahead of New Zealand to take 4th.
After a lengthy wait for Race 5 to get underway in the hope of improved conditions, it was Los Gallos who got the inside line to Mark 1 with the U.S. SailGP Team close behind in the sprint.
Penalties were the order of the day with BONDS Flying Roos unimpressed to have been handed a five-second penalty at the finish line for not making way for New Zealand. It mattered not, as Tom Slingsby and the Roos reached the Final.
For the U.S. SailGP Team, another 4th-place finish was secured, narrowly missing out to Germany for 3rd.
In the Final, the BONDS Flying Roos were hit with a penalty at the top of the start line and that allowed Heil and Germany to take the lead. Having gained control approaching M1, they never looked back despite the Aussies mounting some concerted pressure in the final 200m, claiming their first event win.
For the Championship - with just two events remaining now - that means Slingsby and co. are back on top with Emirates GBR 2nd and New Zealand in 3rd. Los Gallos and France are among the contenders trying to crowbar their way into Grand Final contention.
The U.S. SailGP Team is back in action in Cádiz for the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix on October 4-5.
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