The Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team finished eighth overall at the ROCKWOOL Germany Sail Grand Prix | Sassnitz, on a weekend that showed the precision and control the team is building in the most demanding conditions of the season, and how fine the margins remain at the front of the 13-team fleet.

“The Swiss are on fire out there. They've really stepped it up. Their consistency across the board has been much better than we have seen in the past. They are really proving themselves to be a team to beat now. In the windy conditions, which we haven't seen before, it's really encouraging for the Swiss team right now.”

Commentary during Saturday's racing.

Precision at speed

The fastest racecourse in SailGP lived up to its name. In strong, gusty westerlies of up to 40 km/h and flat water, the fleet raced in two groups on the smaller 18-metre wingsail, pushing beyond the championship's previous all-time top speed.

Switzerland was in the battle from the first start. The team crossed second in its Group A opener, 16 seconds behind race winner New Zealand, and across the day matched or led its group outright on four of six reaching legs, the clearest measure yet of the crew's control of the F50 at the top of the wind range.

It was one of the best sailing days in SailGP so far, with epic racing conditions. We have more and more control in windy conditions, which means we can push the limits of the F50 much more. The team sailed really well, we were fully in the mix and pushing hard.

Sébastien SchneiterDriver, Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team

The performance left Switzerland third in Group A after day one, tied with Spain on seven points, with a place in the four-boat final still open heading into Super Sunday.

Two moments decide the weekend

A series of squalls made Sunday a different test, with strong breeze giving way to sudden drops in pressure across the racecourse.

The Swiss crew was well placed in the first race until a pitchpole during a rake handover ended its chances: the bow buried and the boat decelerated from 65 km/h to 30 km/h in the space of two seconds. In the second race an early start put the team behind the fleet; the crew matched the leaders' pace for most of the course and worked back through the field, but the deficit proved too large to close. The four-boat final went the way of the Bonds Flying Roos, with Canada’s Northstar SailGP Team second.

It was a difficult day. In the second race we went all in and risked too much, which led to an early start. We managed to come back well after that, and we were sailing the boat strongly as a team, but some of the racing itself didn't go to plan this weekend.

Sébastien SchneiterDriver, Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team

What was said on air on Saturday is what we see inside the team. The speed and the way the crew handles the boat in big breeze are at the level we've been building towards. We still need to work on our communication and on staying calm in the decisive moments, but we're on the right track. Valencia and Geneva are where we show it.

Boet BrinkgreveCEO, Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team

Spain Sail Grand Prix, Valencia

The team races next at the Spain Sail Grand Prix in Valencia on 5–6 September, before the Rolex SailGP Championship comes to Switzerland for the first time: the Geneva Sail Grand Prix, 19–20 September, on the team's home water.