Team South Africa sails in Grandson, Switzerland ahead of the SSL Gold Cup in Rio

SSL Gold Cup © Martina Orsini

SSL Team South Africa has reached the midpoint of an intensive six-day training camp at the Star Sailors League Training Center in Grandson, Switzerland, stepping up preparations for the 2026 SSL World Cup in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Training on Lake Neuchâtel, the South African squad has made the most of favourable sailing conditions while testing new crew combinations aboard the high-performance SSL47. The camp is giving the team valuable time to sharpen boat handling, strengthen communication and assess how different combinations perform under pressure.

Joint sparring with Brazil

A defining feature of the Swiss camp has been on-water training alongside SSL Team Brazil. The two national crews have acted as sparring partners, running competitive drills and tactical exercises designed to refine manoeuvrers, decision-making and race execution.

"It's been amazing to be here, with fantastic sailing conditions. It is an absolute pleasure and privilege to stay in this beautiful place and train. We have also been very fortunate to have Brazil with us as training partners." Team South Africa Helm: David Rae

Developing emerging talent

Beyond tactical refinement, Team South Africa arrived in Grandson with an open-minded selection approach. The camp is providing a platform for young sailors to experience international high-performance keelboat sailing and demonstrate their potential within the national programme.

Crew members are being rotated through a range of onboard positions to test versatility and identify the combinations that deliver the strongest balance of skill, communication and execution. Two young female sailors are among the new recruits being assessed in distinct operational roles.

The sailors have embraced the opportunity, although the physical demands of maneuvering the powerful SSL47 have created a steep learning curve. Each session is helping the crew build stamina, confidence and technical precision under race-simulated pressure.

The Road to Rio 2026

The Grandson training block is a critical foundation for the next phase of Team South Africa's campaign. The 2026 SSL World Cup, often described as the "Football World Cup of Sailing", is scheduled to bring leading national teams together in Rio de Janeiro from 18 November to 13 December 2026.

The time in Switzerland, the team's priorities are clear: consolidate crew roles, improve consistency across maneuvers and unlock greater boat speed. Every drill now contributes to a bigger goal: arriving in Rio as a cohesive, competitive South African unit ready to perform on the world stage.