The 2025 Sailing Grand Slam is taking on sharper contours. In the battle for a powerful and international umbrella for Olympic sailing, five major regattas form a series that puts its athletes centre stage. The season kicked off with the Spanish classic Trofeo Princesa Sofia - with a strong start from the national sailors. We also show the new pictures of the top German sailors.
These are turbulent times in Olympic sailing. New formats are being experimented with on the water and on land and efforts are being made to maximise the appeal for athletes and fans. Behind the endeavours is also the goal of remaining an attractive sport for the Olympic Games in the eyes of the International Olympic Committee (IOC). While some of the tests of new final formats are also stylised, the Sailing Grand Slam provide order and an overview, offer the Olympians a reliable, continuous and veritable stage.
Sailing Grand Slam: focus on the 10 Olympic sailing disciplines
Sailing was first organised as an Olympic sport in 1900. 126 years later, it is now just over two years until the XXXIV Summer Olympics with ten sailing competitions: six boat and four board disciplines. The following will be in action: the one-person dinghies Ilca 7 (men) and Ilca 6 (women), the 470 and the Nacra 17 for mixed crews as well as the skiffs for men (49er) and women (49erFX). Plus the iQFOiL windsurfers (men/women) and the Formula kiters (men/women).
These ten disciplines are also at the centre of the Sailing Grand Slam regattas. The top series in Olympic sailing, which was relaunched in 2025, is now picking up speed. It consists of five major regattas: The Spanish classic, which has already been contested this year Trofeo Princesa Sofía Mallorca marked the first impact. This is followed by the French Olympic Week starting this weekend (Semaine Olympique Française) off Hyères and the Dutch Water Week from 30 May to 7 June near Almere.
The fourth chapter will be Kiel Week in their first Olympic half-time (20 to 24 June). The final event will be the Long Beach and San Pedro Olympic Classes Regatta (13 July to 6 August). Click here for the Overview of the regatta quintetwhich forms the Sailing Grand Slam 2026.
National sailors get off to a strong start in the Sailing Grand Slam
After last year's bumpy start to revitalising the idea of an overarching series for Olympic sailing, the Sailing Grand Slam is now picking up speed. The new rankings can already be viewed online after the first of the five events.
With the Trofeo 49er winners Richard Schultheis and Fabian Rieger, a German duo is also ahead in one discipline. In the 49erFX, Sophie Steinlein and Cathy Bartelheimer are second in the rankings after their brilliant silver medal win in Spain. Philipp Buhl is lurking in fourth place in the Ilca 7. After the successful performance of the national sailors off Mallorca (2nd place in the nations ranking) the German Sailing Team has created a good basis for the further course of the Sailing Grand Slam.
Following the opening regatta in Spain, the organisers of the Sailing Grand Slam have now turned to the sailors, coaches, classes and associations in order to obtain further feedback and drive forward improvements for the future. The letter said: "We are not there yet. It will continue to develop. And it will only improve if we continue to listen - to you, your coaches, your classes, your associations."
For the first time, the building blocks are in place: five events, ten classes, a common organisation." Sailing Grand Slam
Sailing Grand Slam: three results and the World Championships count in five regattas
The Sailing Grand Slam (SGS) is intended to show the performance of Olympic athletes beyond individual regattas over the entire season. In the end, the three best SGS results and the non-cancellable World Championship result count. This means that it will carry less weight if a team or even an entire discipline does not take part in one of the SGS regattas. The SGS organisers have their athletes in their sights above all and want them to sail to the fore.
The SGS letter to the activists states: "We want to support you in telling your story. Not by asking for more or turning you into influencers, but by connecting what already exists. Across our five events, your ten classes, your national associations and you."
'From the athletes. For the sport.' is not a slogan. It is a principle. We listen. We adapt ourselves. And we're building this together with you." Sailing Grand Slam
The letter from the SGS supporters continues: "As with storytelling, we are not looking for polished perfection. What connects fans and followers to our sport is the real story: the good days, the bad days, the work in between." The goal of the series architects is clear: "A global series that strengthens Olympic water sports competitively, structurally and visibly."
The first points for the Sailing Grand Slam were collected at the Trofeo Princesa Sofía. Two German crews were then placed in the SGS top three at the start of the season:
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
