Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix | Geneva

Thirteen F50s unleashed on Lake Geneva: the heart of the battle

On 19 and 20 September 2026, Geneva's harbour will hum with foiling energy. The Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix returns for its second edition, and this time, the stakes have shifted into another dimension. Eleventh round of a marathon thirteen-event season, this Grand Prix will be the proving ground for qualification to the Grand Final. On Lake Geneva, there'll be no room for regret.

The first edition in 2025 was a sellout. Pre-sales for 2026 confirm the trend: demand is already strong. Swiss enthusiasm for flying sailing is no longer a gamble — it's a fact.

From first attempt to unmissable fixture

The story is short but intense. In 2025, Geneva discovered SailGP in an electric atmosphere. Sporting result: a cold shower for the local crowd. The Swiss team, carried by its supporters, had final victory snatched away by Germany, authors of an improbable raid on the waters of Lake Geneva.

That home defeat left its mark. It also created a narrative everyone's waiting to see resolved in 2026.

Building on the logistical and popular success of that first edition, the event returns with raised ambitions: expanded format, optimised spectator experience. Geneva now sits alongside Sydney, New York and San Francisco on the SailGP world circuit.

Lake Geneva, formidable arena

You don't sail on an Alpine lake like you do in Sydney Harbour. The Geneva course imposes its own laws, and teams that ignore them pay in full.

La Bise, invisible referee

The lake is capricious. Between flat calm and sustained Bise winds, transitions can be brutal. Teams will need to adjust foils and wing in real time, or risk dropping out of the pack. Here, the best weather analysis is worth as much as the best top speed.

Fresh water, different foils

A technical detail non-specialists overlook: fresh water is less dense than seawater. Foil lift is affected. Take-off and flight settings require specific calibration — a parameter teams will have worked on well in advance.

A natural stadium

SailGP's "stadium racing" format finds an ideal setting in Geneva. Races unfold in immediate proximity to the shores, offering the public rare visibility. No binoculars needed.

Thirteen nations, one start line

This is the big news for the 2026 season: 13 F50 catamarans line up simultaneously. Thirteen foiling hulls on a lake racing area means traffic, nervous starts and constant collision risk.

The format remains SailGP's signature:

• Fleet races on Saturday and Sunday morning: all teams compete, points accumulate
• Three-boat final on Sunday afternoon: only the weekend's top three battle it out in a "winner-takes-all" race

Suspense is guaranteed right to the final minutes.

The contenders

The 2026 fleet density makes any prediction hazardous. In 2025, the championship top three were separated by 3 points. A single point divided Australia from Great Britain.

• Australia (BONDS Flying Roos, Tom Slingsby) — Historical leaders, 39 points in 2025. The team to beat, now and always.
• Great Britain (Emirates GBR, Dylan Fletcher) — 38 points in 2025. Number one challenger, a whisker from the throne.
• France (Les Bleus) — Third in the 2025 championship on equal actual points. Credible outsider, seeking to deliver.
• Germany — Defending champions in Geneva. After the 2025 surprise, obliged to prove it wasn't a fluke.
• Switzerland — The home team, driven by hunger for revenge. The 2025 home defeat still burns.
• New Zealand (Black Foils) — Established powerhouse, always podium contenders.
• Italy (Red Bull Italy) — Newcomer, great unknown. Red Bull's extreme sports expertise applied to flying sailing.
• Spain (Los Gallos), Canada, Denmark (Rockwool), United States and the others complete a world-class fleet.

Find the full list of competing teams and compare boats on spencer.club.

Why every point will count on Lake Geneva

The Grand Final race

After Geneva, only two events remain — Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Points distributed on Lake Geneva will weigh heavy in the balance. When a single point can swing qualification, every manoeuvre, every start, every gybe becomes a major strategic act. Teams in marginal positions will take tactical risks they'd forbid themselves early season.

The Swiss obsession

For the national team, the stakes transcend the rankings. It's about validating an entire country's investment in high-tech sailing. The narrative writes itself: revenge or fresh heartbreak. Swiss media and fans are waiting for nothing else.

A full-scale test for permanence

The event relies on top-tier partners — Rolex, Oracle, Mubadala. Success of this second edition is crucial to anchor Geneva durably on the world calendar and prove the city can rival the circuit's great capitals.

Practical information

• Dates: Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 September 2026
• Tickets: available via the official SailGP portal, from general access to VIP experiences. Given 2025's attendance, book early.
• Broadcast: worldwide coverage, notably via the SailGP+ platform

Follow this race's updates and view the full season calendar on spencer.club.