Switzerland SailGP Team make their racing debut at the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix
by Switzerland SailGP Team 14 May 2022 17:59 PDT
14-15 May 2022
Switzerland SailGP Team helmed by Sebastien Schneiter and Australia SailGP Team helmed by Tom Slingsby competing on Race Day 1 of Bermuda SailGP presented by Hamilton Princess © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
Switzerland SailGP Team, led by Geneva's Sébastien Schneiter, made their racing debut at the Bermuda Sail Grand Prix presented by Hamilton Princess today, the start of SailGP Season 3.
Lining up against the nine strong fleet they completed three 15-minute races in 8-10 knots, gusting around 12. It was a day of intense racing for the new Swiss team, but they were on the pace throughout and placed 8th, 6th and 6th across the opening day's scoreboard.
Schneiter on race day one,"It's great to finally get racing here in Bermuda! Our goal today was really to get some clear starts. The first two starts were OK but not amazing and then the last one was really good. We just found a little spot in the middle of the line and had a great start from there so hopefully we can learn from this and tomorrow do more starts like this.
"Since we have been here in Bermuda - for the training and the practice racing - I think we've been improving day by day, and we were there in the mix today, so that's good news. We were fighting against the best teams and had a few close calls with the Australians!
"But in the end, we always want more, so tonight we will watch all the races together and try and understand what the top teams were doing better, looking at all the data there is available which is just an amazing tool for teams like us who are trying to learn."
Racing resumes with the second and final day of the event on Sunday 15 May at 14.12 local time, 19.12 CEST. Two further Fleet Races are planned before the Grand Final. The team that tops the leaderboard after the two Fleet Races will be crowned event champion. Fans in Switzerland can watch all the adrenaline fuelled action from 19.00 CEST on Blue Sport or live on You Tube.
Switzerland SailGP Team is supported by its main partner and Race for the Future partner, the VI Foundation. The team will be racing with an important call to action for competitors and fans world-wide; to '#BacktheBid' to see the sport of sailing reinstated in the Paralympic Games in time for LA28.
Switzerland SailGP Bermuda Crew:
- Sébastien Schneiter (SUI) - driver
- Stuart Bithell (GBR) - wing trimmer
- Jason Saunders (NZL) - flight controller
- Richard Mason (GBR) - grinder
- Eliot Merceron (SUI) - grinder
- Julien Rolaz (SUI) - grinder
- Elodie Mettraux (SUI) - strategist
- Laurane Mettraux (SUI) - strategist
- Jérémy Bachelin (SUI) - reserve athlete
SailGP.com/teams/Switzerland