The countdown has begun: SailGP in Sassnitz promises exciting sailing!

The countdown has begun: SailGP in Sassnitz promises exciting sailing!

The countdown has begun: In exactly 30 days, Team Germany will be on the big stage during the SailGP event in Sassnitz. On August 16th and 17th, 2025, the event, which is considered the “Formula 1 of sailors”, will attract hundreds of spectators to the Baltic Sea coast and offer the athletes the opportunity to present themselves in front of a home audience. After a mixed start to the season, including an eighth place at the last races in Auckland, the team is hoping for positive points in the competition and thus a successful end to the second half of the season. According to Float Magazine, the support of Mayor Leon Kräusche is crucial for the team's motivation.

Erik Heil, the team's skipper, sees Sassnitz as an excellent opportunity to introduce SailGP to a wider audience. The wind conditions in August are particularly optimal. “70 percent of the winds come from the west with speeds between 12 and 16 knots, which creates ideal conditions for exciting races,” says Heil. Tim Kriegelstein, the CEO of the Germany SailGP Team, also emphasizes the importance of high visibility, as they want to stabilize themselves both sportily and economically.

Preparations and challenges

Preparations for the event are already in full swing. The construction of the Tech Site in Westhafen will run from July 28th to August 15th, 2025. However, to ensure that the event runs smoothly, there are some traffic restrictions: The access to Sassnitz will be closed from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the event days in order to safely guide the expected 10,000 visitors. For better organization, shuttle buses are provided from the Mukran car park, and access is also guaranteed for emergency services. The Sassnitz.de makes it clear: Traffic restrictions only apply on the days of the event.

The event not only offers sporting highlights, but is also an important step for the marketing of future German appearances in SailGP. The broadcasts on ZDF are intended to further increase visibility and help to attract additional sponsors. Deutsche Bank is currently the team's main sponsor, but they are actively looking for additional partners. Kriegelstein mentions: “We have a budget of a maximum of 10 million US dollars, but with high losses at the moment we have to manage wisely.”

Review of the season

Looking back on the past races, the team in Auckland was not entirely satisfied. Despite a good competition, in which they achieved placements between 5th and 7th place, the team fell short of expectations. Coach Lennart Briesenick was still able to exude optimism and emphasized that the learning curve was steep. “We have the potential to continue to improve,” he explained after the challenges of last season. According to ZDF, the team has struggled in Auckland, but the home event in Sassnitz could be the turning point they desperately need.

In the coming weeks, the team will do everything in its power to prepare optimally in order to offer the home fans a spectacular event. Team Germany will be racing in Sassnitz with a lot of anticipation and the will to prove themselves in the second half of the season. The support of the local population and the optimal presentation opportunity could make the crucial difference.