Swiss SailGP Team closes Abu Dhabi event with strong learnings and eyes set on next season
by Switzerland SailGP Team 30 Nov 10:34 EST
29-30 November 2025
Sebastien Schneiter, driver of Switzerland SailGP Team, controls the wheel of the F50 catamaran on Race Day 2 of the Mubadala Abu Dhabi Sail Grand Prix Season Grand Final presented by Abu Dhabi Sports Council © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
The Swiss SailGP Team wrapped up an intense weekend of racing in Abu Dhabi, finishing 8th at the event and 8th overall in the 2025 SailGP season.
Despite promising results on Saturday and a near shot at the podium, Sunday's marginal foiling conditions and costly penalty points from an incident on Saturday ultimately kept the team out of contention. Still, the weekend marked important progress for the young Swiss squad as they look ahead to next season.
Solid Saturday Puts Swiss in Podium Contention
Saturday delivered a series of impressive performances, with race finishes of P5, P7, P2, and P1, placing the team third overall after day one with 21 points, even after receiving penalty points.
Team driver Sébastien Schneiter highlighted the team's mindset and adaptability after the first four races, heading into "Super Sunday":
"It was an opportunistic mindset from the Swiss team. With lake-like, hard-to-predict conditions, we stayed calm and collected, even with only three athletes on board due to the super-light winds."
A podium on Saturday would once again have demonstrated the team's ability to fight at the top of the fleet. With momentum building, the team was already focused on applying these learnings toward the coming season.
Challenging Sunday Shifts Final Standings
Sunday brought slightly more wind but still marginal foiling conditions. Fighting to stay on the foils and bringing the points home on this very tight race course, the Swiss slipped to 8th position overall in Abu Dhabi.
"It was still a good step forward this weekend," coach Javi Torres said. "We had another real shot at the podium, we were very close. There were a lot of valuable learnings for us this weekend. We're in a good position for next season, and that's what really matters."
The event concluded with the Danish on top of the podium and Team Emirates GBR claiming the 2025 Season Championship after a spectacular Grand Final against Team New Zealand and the Australian Bonds Flying Roos.
Leadership Perspective: Building Momentum
Swiss SailGP Team CEO Boet Brinkgreve stressed the importance of the weekends experience:
"We learned a lot, especially in these marginal conditions. The team is energized for next season, and we are growing step by step, we are proud to represent Switzerland!"
Next Steps: Rest, Reset, and Prepare for Perth
The Swiss team now heads into a well-deserved break after an intense season. Their preparation for 2026 will center on:
- Strengthening communication onboard.
- Advancing physical conditioning.
- Optimizing acceleration and maneuvers in racing situations.
The next SailGP event for the Swiss team will take place in Perth, Australia, 17-18 January 2026.
We would like to thank our partners for their support throughout this season.