Swiss SailGP Team put up a good fight on day 1 of T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix
Swiss SailGP Team put up a good fight on Lake Michigan today, battling choppy waters and unpredictable and shifty conditions on the first day of racing at the T-Mobile United States Sail Grand Prix in Chicago.
Three 15-minute races were contested – with wind speeds of 32 km/h – allowing the nine strong fleet to send it on the lake. The Swiss team placed a 6th, 7th and 9th on the scoreboard and head into the second and final day of racing tomorrow seventh overall. The Canadian SailGP Team, led by Phil Robertson leads at the top with Britain’s Sir Ben Ainslie in second.
Geneva’s Sébastien Schneiter on race day one, “It was a lot of fun out there today, I think one of the best days I’ve had sailing! It’s very challenging racing here on Lake Michigan, but I think we did really-well as a team.
“We had some amazing starts and we had good moments during the races. There were a few little mistakes that cost us a lot but overall we are happy with today and we know we can make improvements, but we also know it will come.
“They were difficult racing conditions for a new team in these boats, but we were always in the mix and fighting. Chicago is an amazing venue for the F50s, it’s the perfect stadium with an incredible backdrop. So far it’s putting on a good show.”
Sunday looks set to be a ‘big wing’ day with light conditions forecast. Racing resumes at 2pm local / 9pm CEST and fans in Switzerland can watch all the adrenaline fuelled action on Blue Sport or live on SailGP’s You Tube channel. Full broadcast information here.
Switzerland SailGP Team is supported by its main partner and Race for the Future partner, VI Foundation. The team are racing with an important call to action for competitors and fans world-wide; to champion equal opportunities to achieve and to ‘ #BacktheBid’ to see the sport of sailing reinstated in the Paralympic Games in time for LA28.
Switzerland SailGP Chicago line up:
- Sébastien Schneiter (SUI) – driver
- Stuart Bithell (GBR) – wing trimmer
- Jason Saunders (NZL) – flight controller
- Richard Mason (GBR) – grinder
- Julien Rolaz (SUI) – grinder
- Eliot Merceron (SUI) – grinder
- Maud Jayet (SUI) – strategist
- Jérémy Bachelin (SUI) – reserve athlete
