SailGP returns to the Baltic Sea coast: Germany Sail Grand Prix 2026

In August 2026, SailGP returns to the Baltic Sea coast: the Germany Sail Grand Prix will take place on 22 and 23 August 2026 in Sassnitz, bringing the most exciting racing on the water back to one of the most spectacular venues on the racing calendar.

Following an extremely successful debut in 2025, SailGP in Germany is gaining momentum both on and off the water. Earlier this year, the German SailGP team was present at boot Düsseldorf with a presentation on innovative technology, overnight repairs and the challenges of this high-speed competition. Erik Kosegarten-Heil, a sailor with the Germany SailGP Team presented by Deutsche Bank, also met with fans at boot Düsseldorf. Fresh from the 2026 season opener in Perth, he spoke about the league’s growth, the German team’s rising profile and what fans can expect in Sassnitz this summer.

Enthusiasm for SailGP in Germany continues to grow following confirmation that the championship will return to Sassnitz in 2027. This establishes the venue as an integral part of the global racing calendar.

SailGP is a global racing series featuring identical high-performance catamarans, known as the F50. These boats are technical masterpieces: at the right speed, they ‘fly’ over the water – supported solely by hydrofoils, i.e. wings beneath the hull. This enables them to reach extreme speeds of over 90 km/h and delivers thrilling racing action in confined spaces.

What makes it special is that all teams sail with exactly the same equipment. There are no technical advantages – it is solely the crews’ skill that counts. Several regattas take place around the globe each season, for example in Sydney, Saint-Tropez and San Francisco. The individual races usually last only around 15 minutes, but are highly intense, tactical and perfectly staged for spectators – both live and online.

Alongside its sporting ambitions, SailGP is also committed to sustainability and innovation: with carbon-neutral logistics, extensive data analysis and a clear goal of making sailing more accessible and sustainable for the future.

The 2025 season opener delivered one of the most memorable weekends of the season. Fans were treated to plenty of action on the water, including a dramatic collision between the U.S. SailGP Team and Emirates Great Britain. The technical team carried out impressive repairs overnight, enabling Emirates Great Britain to return to the starting line-up the following day. The home crowd also had every reason to celebrate: Germany secured its first race win of the season, whilst thousands of local fans cheered the team on from the shore, creating an electrifying atmosphere in Sassnitz.

More than 12,500 spectators attended the 2025 event. For 2026, the organisers are planning an even bigger event experience with expanded spectator areas and additional activities along the waterfront promenade.

Fans can once again choose from a range of viewing experiences, including the Race Stadium Grandstand and the Waterfront Grandstand.

The Race Stadium Grandstand offers barrier-free access to the action with open seating overlooking the race track, live commentary, giant video screens, interactive activities, family-friendly entertainment and access to a lively Race Village with food and drink available all day long.

Those who want to be even closer to the action can enjoy a premium view from the Waterfront Grandstand, watching the high-speed F50 catamarans race just a few metres from the shore. There is also access to the Race Stadium’s other entertainment and hospitality areas.

The ‘Bring Your Own Boat’ options will also return in 2026, allowing private boat owners to be part of the race track atmosphere from the water. Further information will be announced closer to the event date.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: Sailing on foiling F50 catamarans, such as those used in the SailGP series, represents a completely new discipline compared to classic regatta sailing. The boats reach speeds of over 90 km/h, and even over 100 km/h at their peak - they literally ‘fly’ over the water. This dynamic requires extremely fast reactions from the crew and precise, coordinated manoeuvres in the millisecond range. The systems on board are highly complex: electric-hydraulic trimming, real-time data analysis, AI-supported decision-making processes and video evaluation are part of everyday life. The crew consists of just six people - with clearly defined roles, each with a high level of technical and tactical responsibility. It is a symbiosis of top-class sport, engineering skill and team precision.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: Our first race win in Dubai was a particularly emotional moment. After a difficult start to the regatta, we were able to impressively prevail in the fleet race - a success that was not only important in sporting terms, but also sent a strong signal for our team spirit and our development as newcomers to the league. This victory was a real milestone and showed us what potential we have.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: The SailGP is all about the perfect interplay of speed, technical precision and tactical understanding. The boat speed - the ‘pure speed’ - is the basis. But without exact trimming, precise foiling and sensitive fine-tuning of the rudders and wings, the potential remains unutilised. At the same time, the tactical component plays a central role: those who read the wind better, position themselves strategically and make the right decisions at the right moment will gain decisive advantages. Our close coordination between steering and strategy, especially between the driver and our tactician Anna Barth, is essential here.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: Mental preparation is an integral part of our concept. I myself work with so-called ‘brain jogging’ exercises - inspired by former ski racer Felix Neureuther. These involve coordination tasks, such as balancing on one leg in combination with ball catching and multi-sensory stimuli. The aim is to train the ability to concentrate and react under pressure. This is supplemented by structured routines such as data analyses, video evaluations and intensive briefings - before and after each race. These routines help us to be focussed and mentally stable at the start.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: We started with the aim of establishing ourselves among the top teams as quickly as possible and regularly competing for podium places. The first races were challenging, but we were able to show early on that we are competitive - the victory in Dubai was a strong example of this. We feel we are on the right track: the potential is there, now it's about building up consistency and delivering our performance in every event.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: In sporting terms, we aim to establish ourselves in the top group in the medium term - with regular participation in finals and realistic chances of overall victories. We also see it as our responsibility to make sailing in Germany more visible, modern and accessible. Through formats such as the SailGP Impact League and programmes such as ‘Inspire’, we want to promote sustainability, inspire young talent and build a bridge between professional sport and the promotion of young talent.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: If you want to make the leap into international professional sailing, you should gain experience in foiling early on - be it on the Moth, WASZP or Wingfoil. At the moment, Olympic sailing is probably still where you'll find the greatest concentration of talent, so a combination of these two paths is likely to give you the best chance of success. At the same time, mental strength is crucial: anyone who has to make split-second decisions needs mental flexibility and clear communication. Handling data and technology also plays a major role today. And last but not least: the ability to work in a team. Modern sailing is not a solo endeavour - it's about performing together in well-rehearsed roles.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: For us, Sebastian Vettel is much more than a prominent co-founder or investor. He actively contributes his experience from Formula 1 - particularly in the areas of performance analysis, technical understanding and structured feedback. He has already completed test drives on board and is in regular dialogue with the team. After the races, he is often involved in the analysis process - he listens, takes notes and scrutinises details. This is not only valuable from a technical point of view, but also a strong sign of his genuine enthusiasm and commitment to the project.