SailGP: Australia and Brits dominate on Lake Geneva - Day 1
by Richard Gladwell/Sail-World.com/nz 20 Sep 2025 17:35 PDT
Race Day 1 of the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix - Geneva, Switzerland - September 20, 2025 © Samo Vidic for SailGP
The Flying Roos (AUS) sit on top of the leaderboard, after the first day of racing in SailGP Switzerland.
It was the first time that SailGP has sailed on Lake Geneva, which turned on light winds and flat water. This was the first test of the new light air foils, and three races were sailed, all completed within the time limits - which probably would not have been the case under the older configurations.
In a further nod to the light conditions, race officials decreed that the crews be reduced from the usual six to just three sailors.
Only three races were sailed, in response to the light conditions. The Flying Roos (Australia) were the most consistent returning a 4, 1, 3 scorecard to top the leaderboard with 25pts, followed by Emirates Great Britain again with a consistent 3,3, 4 scorecard for 23pts. Sebastien Schneiter helmed the Swiss team to a 5,2,8 scorecard, which was a more typical pattern for the rest of the fleet.
After the day's racing Australian skipper Tom Slingsby maintained the team had no advantage from the extra sailing time they had ahead of the Swiss event, testing out the new light air foils package - before it was installed on the rest of the fleet for racing.
Black Foils skipper Peter Burling (NZL) summed up the teams roller-coaster day, commenting that "we knew that if you were in front at Mark 1, you were going to have a pretty easy day." That proved to be the case for most teams except the Kiwis.
A group of five teams are headed by the Swiss, who are on 18pts and in third place after Day 1. Just three points cover the five teams, and while Australia and Great Britain should go through to the Final, the points differential is not sufficient to assure them of a Final place.
The next four teams: Canada 17pts, New Zealand 16pts, France 15pts and Denmark 15pts - all had their highs - a win or second, coupled with a mid-fleet place and a horrible.
Race 1: New Zealand got off to a flying start at the leeward end, up and foiling and were never headed. They set the scene for what was to follow with the lead boat usually being well in control, some serious place swapping in the middle of the fleet, and with the backmarkers coming close to being lapped. USA was disqualified by the Umpires for "barging" at the start. Denmark had their best race finishing in second place - which they held for the duration of the race.
Race 2: Australia got control of the race after rounding the leeward mark (Gate 2) for the first time, and despite some lead swapping with Germany, managed to stay in contact leaving Germany, Denmark, Great Britain and the Swiss to battle for the minor placing. Mid-race many of the teams began to fall off their foils as the wind lightened, leading to some quick place swapping. The Kiwis staged the comeback of the day, showing what could be done from the back-end of the race getting the blue and black boat onto its foils and ripped through from last place to be fifth in just a few hundred metres
Race 3: After a promising, and very brave start, the Black Foils came flying through from the back of the start, on their foils, and managed to break through. However the lead group also got foiling as the Kiwis passed and three boats passed Mark 1, almost abreast.
The New Zealand team were unable to crystalize their advantage, and with some technical issues slid back through the fleet. Quentin Delapierre helming the French team, were one of the group of three at mark 1, along with Canada and both eased away to finish a comfortable first and second, with Tom Slingsby taking a leaf out of the Kiwi playbook to go from 12th and last at Mark 1 to be third at the finish.
Slightly stronger breezes are forecast for tomorrow, Sunday, when it is hoped to sail at least three races and the Event Final.