SailGP once again pushed beyond its previous limits in Sassnitz, where the opening day of the Rockwool Germany Sail Grand Prix delivered strong winds, five different winners across six races and, above all, a new outright speed record. Quentin Delapierre’s French DS Automobiles SailGP Team reached 107.63 km/h, or 58.1 knots, comfortably surpassing the 103.93 km/h record set by Denmark’s Rockwool Racing on the same racecourse a year ago.
With 13 F50s competing, the fleet was divided into two groups: seven teams in Group A and six in Group B. The first three races for each group were sailed in winds exceeding 24 knots, using 18-metre wings and high-speed foils and rudders. The combination allowed several boats to improve on the previous record but also made the F50s particularly difficult to control through the gusts and manoeuvres.
In the opening Group A race, Peter Burling’s New Zealand Black Foils and the Swiss Explora Journeys team made the strongest starts and rounded the first mark together at close to 95 km/h. The Black Foils then moved ahead to take the win from Switzerland, while Red Bull Italy read the changes across the course well to climb into third place. France finished fourth, ahead of Denmark’s Rockwool Racing, Brazil’s Mubadala Brazil and the Spanish Los Gallos team.
France controlled the second race from the start, reaching 94 km/h before the first mark and holding off a recovery by the Black Foils. Behind them, a particularly difficult third-gate rounding involved several teams: Spain and Switzerland lost ground, while Rockwool Racing moved from fifth to third. Los Gallos eventually finished fourth, followed by Switzerland, Italy and Brazil.
The most spectacular moment of the day came in the final Group A race. A squall swept across the course shortly after the start, producing a succession of exceptional speeds. Rockwool Racing initially reached 106 km/h before flying too high and nosediving, while moments later France rounded the first mark at 107.63 km/h to establish the new SailGP record.
Delapierre’s record-breaking pace was not enough to secure the race win. The Spanish crew of Los Gallos found stronger pressure on the left-hand side of the course and moved into the lead, finishing ahead of France and the Black Foils. Switzerland crossed fourth, followed by Italy, Denmark and Brazil.
The New Zealand Black Foils lead Group A after recording a win, a second and a third place, with France holding the other provisional qualifying position. Los Gallos recovered from a seventh and a fourth with victory in the final race and sit ahead of Switzerland on the tiebreak. Italy and Denmark follow, with Brazil completing the group.
In Group B, Tom Slingsby’s Australian Bonds Flying Roos won the opening two races. Australia controlled both from the start, displaying particularly effective boat handling in the gusty conditions, but missed out on a perfect day after finishing sixth in the final race.
That race went to the home Germany SailGP Team. Erik Heil’s crew led at the first mark and, despite receiving a boundary penalty that briefly handed the advantage to Canada’s NorthStar, recovered the lead following a wind shift and won by a comfortable margin. Canada finished second ahead of Sweden’s Artemis, Emirates Great Britain, the United States and Australia.
The Bonds Flying Roos lead Group B, one place ahead of Artemis. Nathan Outteridge’s Swedish team produced the most consistent series in the group, finishing third in all three races. Canada, Great Britain, Germany and the United States remain within reach of the two qualifying positions.
Two further races are scheduled for each group on Sunday. The top two teams from each group will advance to the four-boat Final deciding the Germany Sail Grand Prix. Based on the provisional standings, the qualifiers would be the New Zealand Black Foils, France’s DS Automobiles SailGP Team, Australia’s Bonds Flying Roos and Sweden’s Artemis, but the margins remain close with two group races still to sail. Racing is scheduled to begin at 2:00 pm CEST, local time in Sassnitz.