Weekend of Momentum Building in Sydney for the Switzerland SailGP Team
by Switzerland SailGP Team 9 Feb 10:32 UTC
8-9 February 2025
Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank helmed by Erik Heil ahead of Switzerland SailGP Team helmed by Sebastien Schneiter and New Zealand SailGP Team helmed by Peter Burling during tight racing on Race Day 1 of the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix © Jon Buckle for SailGP
It was a weekend of momentum building in Sydney for Switzerland SailGP Team, with standout results to start and finish the KPMG Australia Sail Grand Prix. Despite putting in a strong performance - and claiming three podium finishes - the Swiss narrowly missed out on a place in today's three-team winner takes all final showdown.
Eleven international teams battled it out on Sydney Harbour across the two days in shifty, puffy conditions. Swiss SailGP Team had a storming start claiming the first race win of the weekend, followed up by 6-9-2 on the scoreboard, to finish day one 4th overall. The team headed into today - day two - with a podium finish in reach but missed opportunities around the course left them in 9th and 11th.
They bounced back to end on a high, battling it out with Australia for the win in the final fleet race of the event. The Aussies claimed it, the Swiss finished second and fifth overall in Sydney. It's the team's highest place finish of the 2025 Season so far, after finishing 9th in Dubai at the Season Opener and 7th in Auckland last month.
Australia went on to challenge Northstar Canada and Emirates GBR in the three-team winner takes all final and after lead changes throughout the Brits took the event win.
Driver Sebastien Schneiter said: "We learnt a lot this weekend. We learn every day and keep improving as a team. Give us a bit more time and we will make it to the final!
"We struggled a bit to get going today and missed a few opportunities but to finish so strong was the most important thing for us. We are really happy with how things went, no regrets and good progress. This is our best result as a team for a long time and for us it's about keeping chipping away where we can. It feels like we are building a strong momentum and already looking forward to LA next month.
"We know where we can make some improvements, we know our comms onboard was a little bit hectic at times, so that's something to work on for now. But it keeps us really optimistic that we are still far away from our best level but showing glimpses of it by winning races and having some second places. We just need to work on our consistency.
"This week we had some really good comebacks and were in the mix which was nice for us, so lots of positive signs and will keep working hard to catch up to the top teams."
Fans back home in Switzerland can watch all the weekend's racing action later today on Blue Zoom F at 14:15 and 16:30, and Blue Zoom D at 14:20 and 16:30.
The Rolex SailGP Championship 2025 continues next month with a return to California and back-to-back events in LA (15-16 March) and San Francisco (22-23 March). SailGP heads to Geneva later this year for the first ever Rolex Switzerland SailGP taking place 20-21 September.
Switzerland SailGP Team crew line up:
- Sébastien Schneiter - Driver
- Maud Jayet - Strategist
- Arnaud Psarofaghis - Wing trimmer
- Bryan Mettraux - Flight controller
- Matt Grotrel - Grinder (G1)
- Stewart Dodson - Grinder (G2)
- Joe Sullivan - Reserve Grinder (G1)
- Arno de Planta - Reserve & pathway athlete