Please select your home edition
Edition
Lloyd Stevenson - Catalyst GT 1456x180px TOP

Geneva to host Switzerland's first Sail Grand Prix in 2025

by SailGP 11 Jun 2024 04:52 PDT 20-21 September 2025
Geneva to host Switzerland's first Sail Grand Prix in 2025 © SailGP

SailGP - the world's most exciting racing on water - has announced the first-ever Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix to take place on the iconic waters of Lake Geneva on 20-21 September, 2025.

The announcement marks the third confirmed event on the global racing championship's hotly-anticipated Season 5 calendar.

The event will also be the home debut of the Switzerland SailGP Team, including Geneva-born Sebastien Schneiter, who will return as driver for Season 5.

The news was revealed at an event in Geneva and was attended by key officials from SailGP, including global CEO Sir Russell Coutts, Switzerland SailGP Team members, title partner Rolex, and representatives from Geneva City and State - all of whom worked together to bring the event to Lake Geneva, Switzerland.

Rolex will be title partner for the Season 5 event, building on an enduring near 70-year relationship with the sport of sailing. The Swiss watchmaker's position as Global Presenting Partner and Official Timepiece of SailGP began with SailGP's Season 1 in 2019, and has since been deepened with a groundbreaking ten-season partnership.

There will also be a number of community initiatives taking place in the build up to the event in Geneva, including SailGP Inspire - SailGP's community outreach and education initiative, which has engaged more than 21,000 young people around the world to date.

The inaugural Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix is the third confirmed event on SailGP's Season 5 calendar, which will start and finish in the Middle East. The season will begin at the end of November 2024 and finish - after a minimum of 13 events - in Abu Dhabi on 29-30 November, 2025. The league has also revealed it will return to New York on 7-8 June, 2025.

SailGP features the world's best sailing athletes representing 10 national teams from around the globe competing in identical high-speed, hydrofoiling, F50 catamarans - capable of speeds of nearly 100 km/h. Thousands of spectators are expected to attend the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix, following the racing from both the water and on land.

More details on the fan experiences and ticketing will be available in 2025 and fans can register their interest by visiting the SailGP website.

SailGP has two events remaining in its Season 4 calendar, including the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on June 22-23, followed by the Season 4 SailGP Grand Final in San Francisco, July 13-14. In the ultimate decider, the event will see the top three teams compete in a winner-takes-all showdown for the Season Championship and USD $2 million in bonus prize money.

Further announcements will follow for SailGP's Season 5 calendar, with exciting new and returning venues, as well as new teams entering the league.

SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said: "We're delighted to announce Lake Geneva as home of the first-ever Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix next year, and know the Swiss will throw their support behind the Swiss SailGP Team's home debut."

Rolex Director of Communication & Image Arnaud Boetsch said: "As a Swiss-based brand, with nearly 70 years involvement in Yachting, Rolex is delighted that SailGP has chosen Geneva to feature among the events that make up Season 5 of the innovative sporting league. Since the very outset of SailGP, we have fully appreciated the combination of talented individuals, advanced technology and passion that define the global championship and which make Rolex such a natural partner. We look forward immensely to welcoming the breath-taking competition to our home waters next year in 2025."

Switzerland SailGP Driver Sebastien Schneiter said: "Having a SailGP event in Switzerland was always a big goal of ours since we launched the team, and we are proud to be able to bring such a high-level sporting event to Geneva. It is the perfect city to host the racing and will be a totally new and unique venue for the F50s. We look forward to working with SailGP, Rolex and the City, to plan an exciting and awesome event."

City of Geneva Administrative Councilor Marie Barbey-Chappius said: "For the City of Geneva, it is an immense pleasure to host an event like SailGP. There is a real tradition of boating in Geneva where sailing enthusiasts are numerous. This race is also a magnificent tourist showcase to show the beauty of Geneva and its harbor."

State of Geneva State Councillor Thierry Apothélo said: "Geneva has a long tradition of sailing and the venue of this SailGP event on Lake Geneva perpetuates this history and takes it to a whole new level. I would like to thank SailGP for bringing this event to Geneva and we can't wait for everyone to experience the racing."

Related Articles

SailGP: Canadians pick up where they left off
Canadians score two wins from four races to top the overnight leaderboard in San Francisco. Two wins from four races put the Northstar Canada team on top of the Leaderboard for the first day of racing in Oracle San Francisco SailGP. Big spilt from top group for podium. Posted on 22 Mar
SailGP: Bravery required in San Francisco
"San Francisco conditions require a lot of bravery' to compete" - Slingsby This weekend's racing venue of San Francisco poses the ‘most extreme conditions of the circuit', which require ‘a lot of bravery' to compete, Australia driver Tom Slingsby remarked at this morning's media conference in San Franciso. Posted on 21 Mar
SailGP: Denmark out for San Francisco
Damage sustained in Los Angeles was deemed too extensive to repair in time for the weekend. The Rockwool Denmark Racing SailGP Team will not compete in San Francisco after damage sustained in Los Angeles was deemed too extensive to repair in time for the weekend. Posted on 21 Mar
Brazil tops the podium in SailGP's Impact League
Clean up project of Pombeda Island in Guanabara Bay, Rio praised by judges The Mubadala Brazil SailGP team secured the top spot in the first Focus Area of the 2025 season Impact League - SailGP's "Podium for the Planet" - the season-long competition that rewards teams for driving environmental action. Posted on 20 Mar
SailGP 2025 season technological advances
Advanced AI integration and new fan experiences put SailGP at the forefront of the industry The 2025 season of the Rolex SailGP Championship will be the most technologically advanced in sailing history as the league heads to the world's epicenter of tech - San Francisco. Posted on 18 Mar
SailGP: Reflections on Los Angeles
Giles Scott looks back on the Canadian win. Peter Burling and Tom Slingsby reflect on missed chances Giles Scott looks back on the Canadian win, Peter Burling and Tom Slingsby on their shortcomings, and what cost them the win in the Final. Plus some analyis of the rest of the fleet and the fickle foibles of foiling F50s in Los Angeles. Posted on 18 Mar
Canada claims first season win
At Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix Northstar Canada claimed their inaugural win of the 2025 Season - the first for the team since March 2023 (Season 3) and the first with double Olympic gold medalist Giles Scott as driver. Posted on 17 Mar
SailGP: Stellar Finals win for Northstar Canada
Northstar Canada team turned in a superlative performance to win the Rolex Los Angeles SailGP The regrouped Northstar Canada team turned in a superlative performance in the Final Day of Rolex Los Angeles SailGP, to score a big win - their first under Giles Scott (GBR) as skipper - and their first in two years. Posted on 16 Mar
Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix Start Analysis
Video looking at the different strategies and what positions paid off Mark Jardine, Managing Editor of Sail-World.com and YachtsandYachting.com, takes a look at the different strategies and what positions paid off, and also looks at Rockwool Team Denmark's collision with a leeward gate mark. Posted on 16 Mar
Blistering Black Foils: New Zealand sits in first
After Day 1 of the Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix New Zealand sits first on the event leaderboard with 31 points, winning two of four fleet races on the opening day of the Rolex Los Angeles Sail Grand Prix. Northstar Canada and Australia are close behind with 28 points and 27 points, respectively. Posted on 16 Mar
Maritimo 2023 S-Series FOOTERPalm Beach Motor YachtsDoyle_SailWorld_728X90px-01 BOTTOM