Geneva, Switzerland – June 11, 2024 – SailGP – the world’s most exciting racing on water – has announced the first-ever Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix to take place on the iconic waters of Lake Geneva on 20-21 September, 2025. The announcement marks the third confirmed event on the global racing championship’s hotly-anticipated Season 5 calendar.
The event will also be the home debut of the Switzerland SailGP Team, including Geneva-born Sebastien Schneiter, who will return as driver for Season 5.
The news was revealed at an event in Geneva and was attended by key officials from SailGP, including global CEO Sir Russell Coutts, Switzerland SailGP Team members, title partner Rolex, and representatives from Geneva City and State – all of whom worked together to bring the event to Lake Geneva, Switzerland.
Rolex will be title partner for the Season 5 event, building on an enduring near 70-year relationship with the sport of sailing. The Swiss watchmaker’s position as Global Presenting Partner and Official Timepiece of SailGP began with SailGP’s Season 1 in 2019, and has since been deepened with a groundbreaking ten-season partnership.
There will also be a number of community initiatives taking place in the build up to the event in Geneva, including SailGP Inspire – SailGP’s community outreach and education initiative, which has engaged more than 21,000 young people around the world to date.
The inaugural Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix is the third confirmed event on SailGP’s Season 5 calendar, which will start and finish in the Middle East. The season will begin at the end of November 2024 and finish – after a minimum of 13 events – in Abu Dhabi on 29-30 November, 2025. The league has also revealed it will return to New York on 7-8 June, 2025.
SailGP features the world’s best sailing athletes representing 10 national teams from around the globe competing in identical high-speed, hydrofoiling, F50 catamarans – capable of speeds of nearly 100 km/h. Thousands of spectators are expected to attend the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix, following the racing from both the water and on land.
More details on the fan experiences and ticketing will be available in 2025 and fans can register their interest by visiting the SailGP website.
SailGP has two events remaining in its Season 4 calendar, including the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on June 22-23, followed by the Season 4 SailGP Grand Final in San Francisco, July 13-14. In the ultimate decider, the event will see the top three teams compete in a winner-takes-all showdown for the Season Championship and USD $2 million in bonus prize money.
Further announcements will follow for SailGP’s Season 5 calendar, with exciting new and returning venues, as well as new teams entering the league.
SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts said:
“We’re delighted to announce Lake Geneva as home of the first-ever Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix next year, and know the Swiss will throw their support behind the Swiss SailGP Team’s home debut.”
Rolex Director of Communication & Image Arnaud Boetsch said:
“As a Swiss-based brand, with nearly 70 years involvement in Yachting, Rolex is delighted that SailGP has chosen Geneva to feature among the events that make up Season 5 of the innovative sporting league. Since the very outset of SailGP, we have fully appreciated the combination of talented individuals, advanced technology and passion that define the global championship and which make Rolex such a natural partner. We look forward immensely to welcoming the breath-taking competition to our home waters next year in 2025.”
Switzerland SailGP Driver Sebastien Schneiter said:
“Having a SailGP event in Switzerland was always a big goal of ours since we launched the team, and we are proud to be able to bring such a high-level sporting event to Geneva. It is the perfect city to host the racing and will be a totally new and unique venue for the F50s. We look forward to working with SailGP, Rolex and the City, to plan an exciting and awesome event.”
City of Geneva Administrative Councilor Marie Barbey-Chappius said:
“For the City of Geneva, it is an immense pleasure to host an event like SailGP. There is a real tradition of boating in Geneva where sailing enthusiasts are numerous. This race is also a magnificent tourist showcase to show the beauty of Geneva and its harbor.”
State of Geneva State Councillor Thierry Apothélo said:
“Geneva has a long tradition of sailing and the venue of this SailGP event on Lake Geneva perpetuates this history and takes it to a whole new level. I would like to thank SailGP for bringing this event to Geneva and we can’t wait for everyone to experience the racing.”
ABOUT SAILGP
SailGP is grand prix racing like you’ve never seen before. The world’s most exciting race on water, where anything can happen in short, adrenaline-fueled battles between national teams at iconic stadium venues worldwide. Top athletes fly identical, high-tech F50 boats faster than the wind at speeds approaching 100 km/h – in a championship that’s powered by nature and races for a better future. Visit SailGP.com to find out more.
ROLEX AND YACHTING
Rolex has always associated with activities driven by passion, excellence, precision and team spirit. The Swiss watchmaker naturally gravitated towards the elite world of yachting six decades ago and the brand’s enduring partnership now encompasses the most prestigious clubs, races and regattas, as well as towering figures in the sport, including ground-breaking round-the-world yachtsman Sir Francis Chichester, the most successful male and female Olympic sailors of all time, Sir Ben Ainslie and Hannah Mills, and the three-time winner of SailGP Grand Final, Tom Slingsby. Today, Rolex is Title Sponsor of 15 major international events – from leading offshore races such as the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race and the biennial Rolex Fastnet Race, to grand prix competition at the Rolex TP52 World Championship and spectacular gatherings at the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup and the Rolex Swan Cup. It also supports the exciting SailGP global championship in which national teams race identical supercharged F50 catamarans on some of the world’s most famous harbours. Rolex’s partnerships with the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Royal Ocean Racing Club, Yacht Club Costa Smeralda, Royal Malta Yacht Club, New York Yacht Club and Royal Yacht Squadron, among others, are the foundation of its enduring relationship with this dynamic sport.
