BONDS Flying Roos Take Control On Day 1
Tom Slingsby and co. continue tussle with neighbors New Zealand in Geneva
Published 09/20/2025
The back and forth between the BONDS Flying Roos and New Zealand atop the Rolex SailGP Championship standings looks set to continue after Tom Slingsby’s crew dominated on Day 1 of the inaugural Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.
Peter Burling and the Black Foils took control last time out in Saint-Tropez, but the Roos hit back on a tough day on Lake Geneva.
With winds between 12-15 km/hr, the fleet utilized the 24m all-purpose wing and the large jib, as well as new light-air rudders and foils. Light wind had been forecast on Lake Geneva and that meant a last-minute switch for the 12 teams, going three up rather than four.
The lack of wind made it tough in the start box as teams jostled for position. The BONDS Flying Roos and the U.S. SailGP Team were penalized for being on-course side (OCS) as the line went white. But it mattered little as the U.S. SailGP Team was disqualified from Race 1 for not giving ROCKWOOL Denmark room.
Championship leaders New Zealand, however, nailed the start and led from Mark 1 to the finish, cruising home ahead of ROCKWOOL Denmark. Emirates GBR held off home favorites Switzerland to take third and continue their fine recent form.
Race 2 saw the wind drop further which meant much of the race took place with teams in H1 mode - having one hull in the water - with foiling opportunities few and far between.
At the start, ROCKWOOL Denmark reversed roles with the U.S. SailGP Team, nipping round the outside at the top of the line. However, that decision paid off and Nicolai Sehested and co. stormed into the lead at Mark 1.
However, it was the BONDS Flying Roos who found the wind and Tom Slingsby’s crew took control of the race to cross the line in first. Hometown favorites Switzerland took second shortly after.
The race for third was arguably the most interesting part of the race with Emirates GBR locked in an intense but slow three-way battle with the U.S. SailGP Team and Germany SailGP Team, presented by Deutsche Bank. The Brits eventually won out, with the U.S. coming home in fourth.
With the race window running out, Race 3 was the last of the day. A blanket start gave little indication of who was in control, but France emerged from a three-wide approach to Mark 1 to take control.
Winners in Sassnitz, Quentin Delapierre’s crew never looked back and ended up effectively lapping half the fleet, such was their commanding lead. NorthStar Canada finished a good Day 1 by coming home in second.
But the real story was comeback kings Australia who went from 12th at M1 to 3rd, edging out Emirates GBR to set up a fascinating Day 2. Credit, too, must go to hosts Switzerland who finished the day in third, ahead of NorthStar Canada.
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