Lake Geneva is not your typical SailGP venue. Hemmed in by mountains and fed by alpine snowmelt rather than ocean swells, it offered the global fleet something entirely new when SailGP arrived in Switzerland for the first time. With Mont Blanc gleaming on the horizon and a light southwesterly drifting across the surface, the scene was breathtaking and technically demanding in equal measure.
To cope with the marginal conditions, the F50s were configured with 24-metre wings, large jibs, and newly developed light-air T foils, all aimed at keeping the boats flying when the breeze barely whispered. Olympic silver medallist Lisa Darmanin, watching from the water, captured the mood perfectly, calling it a "stunning day on the lake," while noting that "staying on the foils will be the big challenge."
Before the fleet could even get away, Switzerland's home campaign hit a snag. The Swiss crew, eager to perform in front of their own supporters with a revamped line-up, reported hydraulic trouble and requested additional time. Officials held the start back four minutes to ensure all twelve boats were on the line together.
When racing finally got underway, the drama was immediate. Both the United States and Australia were ruled over the line early. The Americans compounded their difficulties with a pre-start penalty as well, a double blow that ultimately led to disqualification.
Denmark made the cleanest getaway, rounding Mark 1 with a slim margin over Great Britain, while Germany and France slotted in close behind. Switzerland, to the delight of the lakefront crowds, were up on the foils and competitive from the first moments of racing.
The team that made the most of the opening exchanges, however, was the New Zealand Black Foils. Peter Burling steered his crew wide off the start, letting others jostle for early position while finding a smarter path through the fleet. They hit the start line with speed and momentum, took the lead, and settled into a composed, low-manoeuvre strategy designed to keep the boat airborne and moving.
From that point, the Black Foils did not relinquish their position at the front of the fleet.
Through the middle legs, the shifting breeze caught out several competitors. Italy crossed Germany on port tack and paid for it with a penalty that cost them dearly in the standings. Canada and Spain swapped places repeatedly in the mid-fleet battle, while Brazil's crew struggled to maintain consistent ride height, losing ground with each passing leg. By the time the fleet reached Mark 4, the Black Foils had opened a clear and commanding lead over everyone behind them.
Switzerland held their own in the top half of the fleet, buoyed by the noise rising off the waterfront, while France worked hard but could not string together the pace needed to threaten the leaders.
Rounding Mark 5, Burling's crew made their intentions plain. Precise timing on every manoeuvre and an unflinching commitment to staying on the foils saw the Black Foils pull away decisively. Denmark gave chase but crossed the finish line 17 seconds adrift. Great Britain took third, Australia recovered from their early-start penalty to claim fourth, and Switzerland completed a crowd-pleasing fifth in front of their home fans. France, Spain, Canada, and Germany filled out the middle of the field, Italy and Brazil came home tenth and eleventh respectively, and the disqualified United States did not trouble the scoreboard.
It was a performance that left little room for argument. The new light-air foils rewarded discipline and smoothness above all else, and no crew handled those demands more assuredly than the Black Foils. Their measured start removed pressure for the remainder of the race, and every time a rival splashed down off the foils, Burling's team was gliding away cleanly.
With three further fleet races to come before the winner-takes-all final, the Black Foils have made their point early. In light air, on an unfamiliar lake, with the weight of expectation on everyone, they delivered a masterclass.
Fleet Race 1, SailGP Geneva 2025, points:
- 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 pts - United States - 0 pts (Disqualified)
