Rolex SailGP: Stormy conditions ahead of light-wind racing on Lake Geneva

It’s no secret that there isn’t usually an abundance of wind in the World League’s only inland venue. Even at last year’s SailGP debut on Lake Geneva, the battle for victory called for light-wind tactics above all else. The Germany SailGP Team possessed these qualities, showed nerves of steel in challenging conditions and won an event for the first time in the history of the German racing team.

SailGP once again without a female helmswoman for the time being

This coming weekend (19–20 September), the 13 SailGP teams are set to make their return to Lake Geneva. Not all of them will be able to tackle the third-to-last round of the season at full strength. At Team Mubadala Brazil, British Laser Olympic champion Paul Goodison has taken the helm from Brazilian double Olympic champion and round-the-world sailor Martine Grael. The only female sailor in the ‘Formula 1 of sailing’ is – as she herself announced on social media – “officially unemployed”.

However, Team Mubadala Brazil did not leave it at that. Initially, substitute athlete Marina Arndt had been promoted to the role of strategist, taking over from Paul Goodison. That was how the team had officially announced it. Then, on Wednesday – as if the crew list featuring Marina Arndt had never existed – another press release followed, announcing the return of Kahena Kunze as strategist for the Brazilians.

During the German racing team’s first year in the league, Kahena Kunze also competed at times for Team Germany, as well as for Brazil and the Danish team Rockwool Racing. Now, the woman who sailed to two Olympic gold medals in the 49er alongside her helmswoman Martine Grael is returning to the Brazilian team. Neither she nor the new helmsman, Paul Goodison, have commented on Martine Grael’s departure, which leaves the league without a female helmsman for the time being, 657 days after its first race on 23 November 2024.

Double blow for the US team as players are sidelined

However, the departure of the only female SailGP sailor to date sparked a strong reaction from other quarters. American grinder Anna Weis wrote in response to Martine Grael’s ‘unemployed’ post: ‘You are a legend and will always be a trailblazer.’ Justine Mettraux, who finished eighth as the top female solo sailor in the last Vendée Globe and Just back from the Ocean Race Atlantic with Boris Herrmann on the new “Malizia 4”, sent a crying smiley. His brother and, until just recently, team-mate Marco Grael posted a broken heart.

The US SailGP team is also facing serious concerns at the moment. First, Taylor Canfield sustained an injury to his upper body – the exact location of which the team has not specified – in an accident on land. Then, the potential young replacement, Harry Melges IV, suffered a leg injury. With just two days to go before the start of the event, it was still unclear who would be at the helm of the American F50 foiler in Switzerland this weekend. Among the possible internal candidates is three-time America’s Cup competitor and strategist Andrew Campbell.

Team Germany, meanwhile, is not currently having to contend with such upheavals. Erik Kosegarten-Heil’s team has been preparing calmly and with focus for the weekend in the neighbouring country. An in-depth debriefing of the SailGP event in Valencia – which was already characterised by light winds – marked the start of their preparations for Geneva. It is not only coach Lennart Briesenick who realises: “Geneva isn’t exactly known for having a lot of wind. So we’re preparing for light winds.”

"We’ve prepared well, drawing on the lessons learnt in Valencia." Lennart Briesenick

“We’re expecting light winds, particularly on Sunday, although it’s still a bit early for very precise forecasts. With that in mind, we’ve spent a lot of time To analyse Valencia and prepare ourselves accordingly for Geneva.” The 2025 event on Lake Geneva, which was also characterised by very light winds, will remain an unforgettable experience for the Black-Red-Gold team. Team Germany were a force to be reckoned with, even with hardly any wind and won. “That’s something we like to look back on,” said Lennart Briesenick.

A German strength in SailGP: sailing with a small crew

Briesenick also clearly remembers that three-person crews were used during last year’s successful slow-motion assault on the Geneva Summit. “That’s no longer the case,” explains the coach, “now we sail in teams of four. But sailing as a foursome feels like sailing as a trio, because the strategist is no longer allowed to grind. So, in principle, you’re sailing as a trio, because the strategist is mainly on board to ensure safety at the back.”

This new rule was introduced following the triple crash in New York, when American, Italian and Brazilian crews collided at the start. The league aims to prevent such incidents – even with small crews in light-wind racing – by deploying vigilant race officials. Naturally, the teams immediately began adapting their on-board manoeuvres to this new system.

“The strategists are also brought in to focus primarily on the headsail. We’ve spent a lot of time on this, but of course we’re not the only ones. However, I think we’ve taken a good step forward,” said Briesenick a few days before the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in Geneva. The coach also counts sailing with a minimal crew as one of his team’s strengths, particularly in light of last year’s success.

Team Germany is fighting for regular starts

Briesenick is also pleased with his team’s boat handling: “Our strength is definitely our technical sailing in all conditions: in strong, moderate and even light winds.” The crew has “improved incredibly in the Delta class in terms of how we sail through the field – that is, how many places we make up”. At the same time, Briesenick admitted: “This strength is also linked to our weakness to some extent: this year, that was our starts. Of course, you can manage a Delta like this better if you start from the back.” But you have to manage it in the first place.

A year on from their golden triumph at the Germany Open in Geneva, the team’s focus, according to Briesenick, remains on “achieving consistency in their performances”. Briesenick looked forward with optimism to the final European event of the year, before the decisive races take place in November – first in Dubai (21–22 November) and then at the grand finale in Abu Dhabi (28–29 November). Click here to view the SailGP table showing the current standings in the battle for the season championship. ZDF will be broadcasting the races of the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix in Geneva on Saturday and Sunday, starting at 3.30 pm on both days live here via the stream.

“The moment of truth” – an interesting conversation between league leader Tom Slingsby (Bonds Flying Roos) and his closest rival, Diego Botin (Los Gallos):

Golden memories of Lake Geneva – the highlights from last year’s Swiss SailGP debut: