5 Things You Need To Know About Geneva
Everything you need to know as the U.S. SailGP Team heads to Geneva for the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix
Published 09/16/2025
Back-to-back race weeks conclude with the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in Geneva this weekend – a first SailGP event for the nation.
Fresh from the drama of the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix, the fleet heads east for a second instalment from Europe. Here’s everything you need to know…
Swiss looking to impress as hosts
Switzerland is a brand-new venue for Season 5 of SailGP, with Lake Geneva providing a stunning backdrop for the 12 F50s to face off.
For Swiss driver Seb Schneiter, the event marks the realization of a long-held aim for the team.
He said: “It was always a goal of our team to bring an event to Switzerland. Every team wants a home event, but Geneva was extra challenging in terms of logistics, organising an event on the lake in such a tight space. So having it all come together now is huge.”
Finalists in Portsmouth, can the Swiss put on a show for a sell-out crowd at home?
All change for Geneva
There will be a few quirks to this week’s event, which is being held on Lake Geneva.
Firstly, the SailGP Tech Base will be in the city center, which means the F50s will remain in the water throughout the week. The course itself will also present a different challenge, as Schneiter explains.
“This will be the first time we’ve raced on such close waters,” he said. “The winds will be unstable, but that makes for exciting racing with a lot of overtakes and opportunities. And of course, in fresh water we don’t even need to wash the boats each day!”
U.S. SailGP Team benefits from consecutive race weeks
With practice racing in Saint-Tropez canceled last Thursday and Day 2 of the event also falling foul of the weather, the U.S. SailGP Team will be relishing the prospect of time together in consecutive weeks.
CEO, Co-Owner and strategist Mike Buckley said: “Double headers are really tough. For our Shore Team, it means a couple of days of all-night work packing up our boat.
“For our sailing team, I think it’s a really good thing. It means we’re together for an extended period of time that doesn’t happen very often. Typically here for five days or seven days and then everyone goes their own way.
“Over a double header we get to be together; team building, looking at data, trying to improve.”
Four-team tussle at the top?
The Rolex Sail Grand Prix Championship Standings after France
Emirates GBR’s win in France really shook things up atop the SailGP Championship standings.
Peter Burling and New Zealand took outright control of top spot with the BONDS Flying Roos dropping to third. Still, only six points separate the Kiwis in 1st and reigning champions Los Gallos in 4th with three events remaining.
But could France have something to say about the Grand Final composition? They’re 15 points back in 5th - a strong showing in Geneva is a must if Quentin Delapierre’s crew are to force their way into the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi at the end of November.
Can Brits make it four straight Finals?
CEO Ben Ainslie takes a selfie with the Emirates GBR team after winning the ROCKWOOL France Sail Grand Prix
Emirates GBR might not have been too disappointed to see racing cut short in Saint-Tropez after moving into 1st place on the overnight standings, in what proved to be the final race of Day 1 in France.
But Dylan Fletcher’s crew are undoubtedly on a roll. They wowed record crowds in Portsmouth by reaching the Final on Super Sunday, ultimately finishing 2nd to the BONDS Flying Roos on home waters.
In Sassnitz they again made the final, missing out to a French team claiming their first win of the season. So it was third time lucky in Saint-Tropez, claiming 10 big points in the fight to reach the Grand Final.
Can the Brits make it four straight podium finishes in Geneva? You wouldn’t bet against them…
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