Just over two years will have passed since the first races of the Germany SailGP team in Chicago in June 2023 when the World Sailing League heads to a German port for the first time. The Sail Grand Prix will celebrate its German premiere in its fifth season on August 16 and 17, 2025 in Sassnitz. Rügen’s picture-book Baltic Sea region and the famous chalk cliffs will then form the backdrop for the spectacular races on the F50 catamarans.

Starting in front of your own fans is a great feeling.” Sebastian Vettel

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Sebastian Vettel said: “A SailGP event in Germany will be a milestone for the league and the team on the way to raising the sport’s profile here.” The 37-year-old native of Heppenheim continued: “A home race is always something special. It will give the team a great incentive and also increase the fan community in Germany.”

The Germany SailGP Team finished its inaugural season in tenth place and has already been able to set some highlights. It took 255 days until the first race win in Sydney in February 2024. As a newcomer, the team fought tenaciously to catch up with the established teams. In addition to Sebastian Vettel, the team’s owners include co-founder and entrepreneur Thomas Riedel and Deutsche Bank.

The still young sailing league, founded by Oracle founder Larry Ellison and sailing star Russell Coutts, will start its fifth season on November 23/24 in Dubai. With the new Team Brazil, a woman will be at the helm for the first time: Double Olympic champion Martine Grael will be attacking with her team as a driver. 14 SailGP summits are scheduled over the course of a year until the final in Abu Dhabi at the end of November 2026 – one more than last year.

Sassnitz on the island of Rügen is now a new venue. Two-time Olympic bronze medallist Erik Heil from Strande said: “It will be a great honor to be at the helm of the German catamaran at the first home event. Since we started the team, it has been our big goal to bring a SailGP event to Germany. We can’t wait to perform in front of our own fans alongside the best teams and athletes in the sport.”

According to the team statement, Sassnitz “prevailed against strong competition from other applicants and locations”. It is expected to be “one of the biggest sailing events ever held in Germany”. League director Russell Coutts is also optimistic about the German debut: “Germany has an impressive history of hosting successful international sporting events. We are delighted to bring the SailGP, with its unique adrenaline-filled high-speed racing and world-class athletes, to this country for the first time.”

It is clear that the mayor of Sassnitz is looking forward to the major sporting event in his home town after being awarded the contract for his location. Leon Kräusche is certain: “Mecklenburg-Vorpommern is the ideal location for the Germany Sail Grand Prix. The UNESCO World Heritage Site ‘Ancient Beech Forests’, Rügen’s unique chalk coast and the historic town harbor with the longest walkable pier in Europe make Rügen the most beautiful island in Germany.”

We are proud to be able to present the sport in our own country as a German team.” Tim Krieglstein

The unique location on the Baltic Sea would also provide the “perfect setting for a sailing event”. Leon Kräusche promised: “The Sail Grand Prix in Sassnitz will not only be a celebration of sustainable sailing, but will also boost the local economy and provide an opportunity to showcase the region to a global audience.”

The Germany SailGP team wants to contribute to this. CEO Tim Krieglstein said: “With the Sail Grand Prix, we have succeeded in bringing the world league of sailing to Germany for the first time, which focuses not only on racing but also on sustainability. The Impact League, SailGP’s platform for the planet, can become a trailblazer for other sports and major sporting events.”