Swiss return to Sydney this weekend

by Switzerland SailGP Team 7 Feb 00:48 PST 8-9 February 2025

General view of racing from the main grandstand on Race Day 1 of The Rolex SailGP Championship ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand © Iain McGregor for SailGP

It's been just three weeks since the second event of Season 2025 in Auckland, now this weekend Switzerland SailGP Team, led by Geneva's Sebastien Schneiter, will return to race on the iconic waters of Sydney Harbour.

Racing at the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix takes place Saturday 8 - Sunday 9 February, from 05:00 CET / 15:00 AEDT. Fans back home in Switzerland can watch all the action live - with an early start - on YouTube and bluenews.ch. Blue Zoom D and Blue Zoom F will also replay the racing across the weekend. How to watch around the world HERE.

Auckland last month was a milestone moment on and off the water, with the introduction of the fleet's new highspeed T-Foils - making the racing faster and closer than ever before - and huge crowds enjoying the action in the grandstand each day. The learning curve continues to be steep for the refreshed Swiss crew, but the team showed some real stand-out moments including a race win and a 3rd place finish.

Switzerland SailGP Team helmed by Sebastien Schneiter in action near to the grandstand on Race Day 1 of The Rolex SailGP Championship ITM New Zealand Sail Grand Prix in Auckland, New Zealand - photo © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP

Now the focus is on the iconic sailing city of Sydney this weekend. Sydney harbour is always a fast, action-packed racecourse for the F50s, with spectators watching closely from Shark Island - in the middle- and lots of boats around the boundary.

Driver Sebastien Schneiter said: "Auckland was pretty awesome overall, and it was a next level event in terms of strong winds, small racecourse and big crowds. It was really a unique experience for us, to be sailing with so many people watching from the grandstand and around us on the water.

Switzerland SailGP Team photograph in the team hangar in front of the F50 catamaran ahead of the Emirates Dubai Sail Grand Prix presented by P&O Marinas in Dubai, UAE - photo © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP.

"It was also an eye opener as it was the first time sailing in such a strong breeze for a lot of the team. It wasn't easy at times, but we always improved, learnt from our mistakes, and got stronger as the time went on, also showing that we can win races."

"Now we are super excited to be back here in Sydney. It's such an iconic venue and we have some great memories from last year, when we had some solid races too, so hopefully we can keep up the momentum from Auckland. There should be plenty of foiling and high-speed action and it be tactically quite open with Shark Island in the middle. There's plenty to play for and the team is charged to get back out there."

KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix | Sydney //

Day One Racing: Saturday, 8 February 3.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. AEDT
Day Two Racing: Sunday, 9 February, 3.00 p.m. - 4.30 p.m. AEDT

Switzerland SailGP Team crew line up: