Light airs test the fleet
Lake Geneva’s light, shifty conditions returned for Race 2, forcing the crews to master the new light-air T foils and rudder winglets introduced this season. These larger foils give the F50s more surface area to lift onto the foils at slower speeds, but keeping flight through manoeuvres remained the key challenge.
Olympic silver medallist Lisa Darmanin described conditions as “pulsing” across the course: breeze arriving in pockets off the mountains, then fading just as quickly. As Race 2 approached, technical gremlins once again delayed Switzerland, but this time the team made it cleanly into the start sequence, with all 12 boats entering the box on time.
A brave Danish start
The start was all action. Denmark, skippered by Nicolai Sehested, forced their way through a tight gap with the USA to lead into Mark 1. It was a gutsy move, drawing admiration from the commentary team for its boldness.
Behind them, Australia were already threatening. Tom Slingsby’s BONDS Flying Roos, who had salvaged fourth from a shaky start in Race 1, executed sharp manoeuvres to stay on the foils. By the second leg, they had matched Denmark and prepared to roll over them.
New Zealand’s Black Foils, by contrast, struggled at the back. Peter Burling’s team fell off the foils early, bogging down in disturbed air. For a moment they trailed in 12th, an unthinkable position just minutes after their Race 1 convincing win.
Mid-race penalties and shifting fortunes
The middle of the fleet became a minefield of penalties. Spain picked up repeated boundary infractions. France sailed outside the course limit and paid the price. Brazil also copped a boundary call, while Germany were twice penalised for denying Canada room at marks.
Switzerland stayed clean. Roared on by a home crowd lining the lakefront, Sebastien Schneiter’s team climbed steadily into second. For a squad that has rebuilt its crew this season, the performance marked a huge step forward.
Great Britain, with Dylan Fletcher on the helm, also kept their composure. Avoiding trouble, they rounded consistently in the top group and set themselves up for another podium finish.
Slingsby’s moment
The decisive move came as the Australians powered into clear air mid-race. A perfectly executed foiling manoeuvre lifted the Flying Roos onto the foils at 28 kilometres an hour, accelerating away while rivals wallowed in the low 20s.
Slingsby’s crew then shifted gears, topping out at 44km/h while keeping both hulls dry through tricky gybes. It was a demonstration of discipline and smooth flight, turning a tight contest into a runaway.
From there, the outcome was never in doubt. Australia charged home with daylight behind them.
Black Foils dig deep
For Burling and the Black Foils, Race 2 became about damage limitation. From last place, they clawed forward metre by metre. By the final gate, they were back in the mid-pack battle, fighting Canada and Germany for fifth.
In a tense closing sprint, Germany were penalised for failing to give Canada room, dropping behind both. That opened the door for New Zealand to slip through. They crossed the line in sixth on the water but were elevated to fifth after the umpire’s call.
It was a reminder that in SailGP, persistence pays. What looked like a disaster became a valuable salvage operation — three points that could yet matter in the overall standings.
Points
Points for Fleet Race 2 at SailGP Geneva 2025
- BONDS FLying Roos – 10 pts
- Switzerland – 9 pts
- Emirates GBR – 8 pts
- United States – 7 pts
- Black Foils – 6 pts
- Northstar (Canada) – 5 pts
- Germany by Deutsche Bank – 4 pts (lost points due to a penalty)
- Los Gallos (Spain) – 3 pts
- ROCKWOOL Racing – 2 pts
- Red Bull Italy – 1 pt
- France – 0 pts
- Mubadala Brazil – 0 pt
Event Points so far
- BONDS Flying Roos – 17 pts
- Emirates GBR – 16 pts
- Black Foils – 16 pts
- Switzerland – 15 pts
- ROCKWOOL Racing – 11 pts
- Northstar (Canada) – 8 pts
- United States – 7 pts
- Los Gallos (Spain) – 7 pts
- Germany by Deutsche Bank – 6 pts
- France – 5 pts
- Red Bull Italy – 2 pts
- Mubadala Brazil – 0 pts
