France sets F50 sailing speed record at 107.6 km/h as SailGP races in Sassnitz

Speed records broken on the Baltic Sea

The SailGP racing circuit returned to the coastal town of Sassnitz on Rügen for the second consecutive year, featuring 13 international teams competing on F50 hydrofoil catamarans. Gusty winds and relatively flat water across the Baltic Sea created prime conditions for high boat speeds right along the harbour outer pier. The previous league speed benchmark of 103.93 kilometres per hour, established a year earlier in Sassnitz by Danish outfit Rockwool Racing, was surpassed repeatedly throughout Saturday afternoon. DS Automobiles Team France, steered by Quentin Delapierre, achieved a peak velocity of 107.6 kilometres per hour to claim the all-time league speed record. Crews from Germany, Great Britain, Brazil, and Spain also surpassed the 2025 Danish benchmark during their opening heats. German driver Erik Kosegarten-Heil reflected on the rapid succession of speed records during the afternoon session.

It was impressive how the records were repeatedly broken. We had the top mark too, but it only lasted half an hour.

German crew recovers with heat victory

The German crew, steered by Kosegarten-Heil alongside strategist Anna Barth, endured an uneven start to their Group B campaign around 14:00. A slow launch off the line left the German catamaran at the back of the fleet, resulting in a sixth and last-place finish in their opening heat. The team showed early pace in their second race before slipping back through the field to conclude in fifth place. Darkening skies over Sassnitz harbour coincided with a sharp turnaround in the third race, where the German crew led from start to finish to secure a heat victory. That closing win kept Germany in contention for a spot in Sunday's grand final after logging a personal best speed of 104.6 kilometres per hour.

Group standings and championship leaders

Organisers split the 13 competing entries into Group A and Group B to avoid heavy mid-course collisions on the narrow two-lap racecourse. New Zealand's Black Foils, steered by Peter Burling, dominated Group A by consistently finishing within the top three in every heat, ending Saturday atop the standings with 12 points. France placed second in Group A behind New Zealand after complementing their record speed run with strong fleet results. In Group B, Australian driver Tom Slingsby guided the championship leaders to consecutive victories in the first two races before finishing last in race three. Despite the slip in the final race, Australia held onto first place in Group B ahead of Sweden in second. Slingsby explained how narrow the competitive margins remain during fleet competition.

The fact that we are leading says nothing yet. We can become last in the last race or have damage, then we lose the victory.

Fan turnout and Sunday final outlook

More than 13,000 tickets were sold for the weekend event on Rügen, with approximately 7,500 spectators gathering along the Sassnitz outer pier to watch catamarans pass within 100 metres of the shore. Crew members sailed harnessed to their boats while wearing crash helmets, protective goggles, and buoyancy vests under 20-metre carbon wings. Competition resumes on Sunday at 14:00 with two additional qualifying heats for each group. The top two teams from Group A and the top two from Group B will advance directly to the four-boat grand final on Sunday afternoon. Forecasts suggest gusty conditions could produce even faster boat speeds during the concluding round of racing.