Race 1: Germany’s fairytale start
The home crowd in Sassnitz erupted as Deutsche Bank Germany SailGP Team snatched a stunning come-from-behind victory. Emirates GBR had led almost the entire race, only to be overhauled on the final upwind by Eric Heil’s crew, who judged the shifts perfectly.
It was Germany’s first SailGP race win, and to do it in front of thousands of fans on home waters gave the regatta the perfect start. The USA held on for third, while Australia staged a late recovery from deep in the pack to claim fifth.
Race 2: Emirates GBR responds
Smarting from their Race 1 loss, Emirates GBR came out firing in Race 2. Dylan Fletcher’s crew took control early and never looked back, stretching to a comfortable win.
France delivered consistency with second, while Australia stole the show with a remarkable recovery. After suffering an early-start penalty, Tom Slingsby’s crew surged through the fleet to grab third. The Black Foils fought hard to finish fourth, keeping themselves in the points hunt despite patchy boat speed.
Race 3: Australia sets the pace
Race 3 was all about speed. Rockwool Denmark lit up the course by hitting 103 km/h, setting a new SailGP speed record and sending a buzz through the grandstands.
But while the Danes made history, it was Australia who converted the pace into a victory. Slingsby’s team split from the fleet at the right moment, picked up a decisive pressure lane, and powered home first. France and Germany rounded out the podium, while Emirates GBR and the Black Foils collapsed down the order to finish 11th and 10th respectively — a costly blow on the scoreboard.
Race 4: Black Foils bounce back amid chaos
The final race of the day belonged to New Zealand’s Black Foils. Burling, Tuke, and their crew shook off earlier frustrations to master the shifting breeze, outduelling Australia in a nail-biting final upwind.
The race was overshadowed by high drama mid-course: the USA collided with Emirates GBR, destroying the American bow and forcing both boats out. Canada capitalised to secure third, while Germany stayed consistent in sixth. Spain and France gathered points in mid-fleet, but Italy slipped backwards.
For the Black Foils, victory was vital — a confidence boost heading into Day Two after an inconsistent day.
Four races, four winners
Day One in Sassnitz underlined SailGP’s unpredictability. Germany, Emirates GBR, Australia, and New Zealand each claimed a win, while France and Canada stayed in the hunt with steady results.
The USA–GBR crash looms large, with overnight repairs required if either team is to return to the water. Meanwhile, the leaderboard remains tantalisingly open, with just a handful of points separating the top contenders.
Sassnitz has already delivered speed records, fairytale wins, comeback heroics, and brutal penalties. If Day One was anything to go by, SailGP Germany is shaping up as one of the most compelling stops of the season.
End of Day 1 points
1 Australia, 32 pts
2 New Zealand, 24 pts
3 France, 24 pts
4 Germany, 23 pts
5 Spain, 22 pts
6 Emirates Great Britain, 19 pts
7 DEN ROCKWOOL Icon Positive RGB, 18 pts
8 Canada, 16 pts
9 Switzerland, 12 pts
10 Red Bull Italy, 12 pts
11 United States, 5 pts
Post race statement from US SailGP Team
After the race which saw the USA and Emirates GBR damaged by mutual contact, the US issued a statement:
After an encouraging start to the Germany Sail Grand Prix, the U.S. SailGP Team was involved in contact with Emirates Great Britain in Race 4, resulting in race-ending damage for both boats. We understand this is the nature of our sport and are relieved no one was injured. We regret the impact on GBR’s race, and both Shore Teams have already begun repairs. Our goal is to be back on the start line tomorrow.
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