Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team Shows Fighting Spirit in Challenging New York Weekend
by Explora Swiss SailGP Team 31 May 23:05 PDT
30-31 May 2026
Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team driven by Sebastien Schneiter, DS Automobiles SailGP Team France, Red Bull Italy SailGP Team, Emirates Great Britain SailGP Team and United States SailGP Team on Race Day 2 of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix © Ricardo Pinto for SailGP
Against the backdrop of Manhattan, the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix delivered one of the most demanding weekends of the SailGP season, with extreme conditions, disrupted racing schedules and highly aggressive fleet racing.
For the Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team, the weekend ended with a disappointing eighth-place finish, but also with clear signs of a team evolving its mindset and approach on the racecourse.
After strong moments in Bermuda earlier this month, the Swiss team arrived in New York determined to race with more intent, take more initiative off the start line and challenge the fleet more aggressively. In difficult and gusty conditions, that approach at times paid off and at times came at a cost.
"We were definitely more aggressive this weekend," said driver Sébastien Schneiter. "At moments we showed very good speed and strong positioning, but we also crossed the limit a few times and paid the price for it. That is part of the process of becoming a team that consistently fights at the front."
Saturday's racing programme was heavily impacted by strong winds, limiting opportunities on the water and creating a difficult opening to the event. When racing resumed on Sunday, the fleet faced unstable and technical conditions that demanded split-second decision-making and absolute precision.
The Swiss team demonstrated improved starts, sharper positioning and a willingness to attack opportunities rather than protect positions. While the execution was not always clean, the weekend highlighted a noticeable shift in mentality and confidence within the group.
"We would rather leave New York knowing we pushed too hard at times than feeling we sailed too safely," added Schneiter. "Now the challenge is finding the right balance between aggression and consistency. The potential is there."