Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix | Geneva

SailGP has raced at some stunning locations, but Geneva might just top the lot. A vast freshwater lake ringed by snow-capped Alps, with the city's elegant waterfront providing a postcard-perfect backdrop, it's the kind of venue that makes you wonder why it took until Season 5 for it to appear on the calendar.

The debut event in September 2025 delivered exactly what Lake Geneva’s reputation promised: light, unstable breeze that tested the fleet’s limits. The first day of racing brought 6-8 knots, enough to keep the F50s flying in the tiniest puffs, but on Day 2 that dropped to 5 knots or even less, forcing crews down to just three sailors per boat to keep them foiling. It was fluky, patchy, and wildly unpredictable – leaders lapping the fleet one minute, the entire order flipping the next.

As the final European stop before the season heads to the UAE for its double-header finale, Geneva's light-air lottery could be ideal preparation for what typically awaits in the Middle East. The conditions may not be quite so marginal in 2026, but teams would be wise to expect another proper test of nerve and flight control in minimal breeze.

Germany claimed the maiden Geneva event – their first-ever SailGP victory – holding off the formidable Flying Roos in tricky conditions. For home favourites Switzerland, finishing third was solid but tinged with disappointment given the weight of expectation from the thousands of fans lining the shores. Winning in front of that crowd will be high on the agenda when the championship returns.

Past winners: Germany (Season 5)