Sail GP team visits wind-rich Sassnitz: on new speed records!

Sail GP team visits wind-rich Sassnitz: on new speed records!

When it comes to quick sailing, the Sail GP is hard to top. Today the German Sail GP team around Team captain Erik Heil and Grinder Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer visits the picturesque town of Sassnitz. This was not selected for a reason, because it is considered one of the windest points on the German Baltic Sea coast. The two sailors want to familiarize themselves with the special nautical conditions on site, as the Sail GP's first races will take place in Germany in 2025.

But what makes these sailing races so special? The participants, twelve international teams, sail in state -of -the -art catamarans, the F50S, which can reach incredible speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour. This is primarily thanks to the innovative foil technology, which ensures that the boats "fly" over the water. While the wind drives the boats, this technology lifts it through the hydrofoiling wings over the water surface and thus minimizes the water resistance. This makes it possible to take paths away from conventional speed limits and, in the best case, to sail four times faster than the wind, as experts explain.

The F50 - a masterpiece of technology

The F50 catamaranes used in the Sail GP are anything but usual. The design is based on the AC50S of the America’s Cup and comes up with numerous modifications. They are 15 meters long and 8.8 meters wide, have complex three -dimensional wing sails and can reach speeds of up to 53.96 knots. The current speed record was set up by a French team in 2022. And there is further potential: improvements through new T-shaped foils with titanium wings should bring the top speed over 110 km/h in the future.

An F50 can be filled with a crew of six people, each taking specific tasks. Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer, who grew up in Schwerin, has the responsibility to align the sails to the wind and trim them with muscle strength. At the age of 27, he hopes to deliver an impressive performance at the race in Sassnitz.

The races and outlook

The anticipation for the Sail GP is large in Germany. After the successful meeting between the German team and the state government on May 21, it will be decided in the coming months whether Sassnitz can be the venue again in 2026. With such an exciting combination of speed, technology and international flair, the races will certainly be a highlight for all fans of water sports.

The fact that this catamaran has come into its own in a far -reaching competition not only makes the hearts of the sailing enthusiasts beat faster, but also shows how much potential is in the connection between nature and technology. The coming months until the first race will certainly be exciting, and hope is great that the German team in Sassnitz will be at the forefront.

The Sail GP not only promises speed and adrenaline, but also a great event for everyone who loves the water!