A historic first race in Geneva
For the first time SailGP racing has come to Switzerland, with the fleet launching into the shimmering waters of Lake Geneva against a postcard backdrop of Mont Blanc. The conditions set a special challenge. The landlocked venue meant the southwesterly breeze was light and shifty, requiring crews to master the art of staying on the foils.
The F50s were rigged with 24-metre wings, large jibs and newly developed light-air T foils — a configuration designed to keep the boats airborne in marginal conditions. Olympic silver medallist Lisa Darmanin, reporting from the water, described it as a “stunning day on the lake,” though she warned “staying on the foils will be the big challenge.”
As the countdown approached, the local team faced drama. Switzerland, desperate to shine on home waters with their revamped crew, reported hydraulic issues and asked for time. The start was held back four minutes to keep all twelve boats on the line.
A dramatic start
Chaos followed the start of the race. Both the United States and Australia were ruled over the line early (OCS), with USA carrying a double blow — a penalty in the pre-start and eventual disqualification.
Denmark launched cleanly, rounding Mark 1 just seconds ahead of Great Britain, with Germany and France tucked close behind. Switzerland, to the relief of their home crowd, were up on the foils and in the mix from the opening stages.
But the star of the show was the New Zealand Black Foils. They started wide under Peter Burling’s direction, initially trailed but chose a smart line that allowed them to accelerate past traffic and build speed. They hit the start line fast, in the lead, and with a clear strategy. Burling’s Black Foils were clearly planning for the long game, keeping manoeuvres to a minimum and focusing on smooth flight.
The Kiwi team stayed in the lead all the way to the finish line.
Mid-race battles
As the fleet stretched, the shifts began to tell. Italy fouled Germany on a port-starboard cross, earning a costly penalty that knocked them backwards. Canada and Spain traded places in the mid-fleet, while Brazil struggled to keep their ride height stable, dropping precious metres every leg.
By this time the Black Foils were flying. By Mark 4 they had set a clear gap between their lead and the remainder of the fleet.
Behind them, Switzerland held firm in the top half, energised by cheers echoing off the lakefront, while France battled hard but couldn’t find consistent speed.
The Black Foils surge clear
Rounding Mark 5, Burling and crew made their decisive move. With perfect timing on manoeuvres and a disciplined foiling strategy, the Black Foils accelerated, fast and clear of the rest of the field. Denmark tried to respond but slipped to 17 seconds behind by the line.
Great Britain secured third, Australia recovered strongly from their false start to claim fourth, and Switzerland earned a rousing fifth in front of their supporters. France, Spain, Canada and Germany filled the middle order, Italy and Brazil struggled home in tenth and eleventh, and the disqualified United States trailed off the scorecard.
A message from the Black Foils
It was a flawless performance from the Kiwis. Burling’s team looked calm; their precise start took the pressure off the rest of the race, and their ability to hold flight when others splashed down set the tone. The new light-air foils clearly rewarded discipline, and no one managed them better than the Black Foils.
With three more fleet races ahead before the winner-takes-all final, the Kiwis’ early win in Geneva is a statement: when the breeze is light and the pressure is high, the Black Foils can execute a masterclass.
Fleet race points
Points from Fleet Race 1 in SailGP Geneva 2025
- New Zealand Black Foils – 10 pts
- ROCKWOOL Racing – 9 pts
- Emirates GBR – 8 pts
- BONDS Flying Roos – 7 pts
- Switzerland – 6 pts
- France – 5 pts
- Los Gallos (Spain) – 4 pts
- Northstar (Canada) – 3 pts
- Germany by Deutsche Bank – 2 pts
- Red Bull Italy – 1 pt
- Mubadala Brazil – 0 pt
- United States – 0 pt (Disqualified)
