Sassnitz to host the inaugural SailGP event in Germany
by SailGP 26 Sep 00:54 PDT
16-17 August 2025
Sassnitz will be the venue for the first-ever SailGP event in Germany © SailGP
The coastal town of Sassnitz on Rügen island will host Germany’s inaugural SailGP event. This international championship, acclaimed as the most thrilling water racing globally, will occur on August 16-17, 2025, against the breathtaking backdrop of the region’s chalk cliffs and scenic harbor.
This event is anticipated to be the most viewed international sailing occasion ever held in Germany, with Sassnitz—located in northeastern Germany by the Baltic Sea—offering ideal conditions for SailGP’s distinctive close-to-shore fleet racing.
SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts stated: “Germany has a proud tradition of hosting successful international sporting events, and we are thrilled to introduce SailGP’s exhilarating high-speed racing, complemented by grandstands onshore for German fans to enjoy unparalleled views of the action for the first time.”
He further added, “We’ve witnessed considerable audience growth in Germany, and we trust that the nation’s devoted racing enthusiasts will rally behind the Germany SailGP Team during their home debut.”
The Germany SailGP Team recently finished its first season in SailGP, demonstrating promising advancement throughout the 13-event championship. Double Olympic medalist Erik Heil leads as Driver, supported by fellow crew members Anna Barth, Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer, and Felix van den Hövel.
In addition to an impressive roster of athletes, the German team features a high-profile ownership group, which includes Thomas Riedel, CEO of Riedel Communications, and four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel.
Looking forward to the Germany SailGP Team’s inaugural home event, Erik Heil remarked, “It is a tremendous honor to captain the Germany team at their first home event. From our team’s inception, our goal was to host a SailGP event in Germany, and we eagerly await the chance to compete in front of our home fans alongside the sport’s top teams and athletes.”
Regarding the thrill of SailGP racing arriving in Germany for the first time, Sebastian Vettel commented: “The first SailGP event in Germany will be a landmark occasion for the league and the Germany SailGP Team towards making the sport popular here. Competing in front of your local fans is always special. It provides the team with significant motivation and will undoubtedly grow the sport’s fan base in Germany.”
As SailGP travels around the globe, the 2024/2025 season will be the league’s most extensive so far, featuring events across five continents. It will begin in Dubai on November 23-24, 2024, with stops in renowned locations like Rio de Janeiro, New York, Sydney, and Geneva.
Sassnitz was chosen over other bidders and locations in Germany to host the nation’s first SailGP event, as it presents excellent racing conditions near fans on the shore.
The natural beauty of Sassnitz will be broadcast to racing enthusiasts in over 212 territories globally—during Season 4, SailGP’s dedicated TV audience averaged 15.4 million viewers per event.
The economic impact of SailGP events on host regions is significant, with an average revenue of $20.8 million generated per event in Season 4.
Expressing excitement about the SailGP event coming to Rügen, Sassnitz Mayor Leon Kräusche stated: “Sassnitz is the perfect site for the Germany Sail Grand Prix. Rügen is Germany’s most beautiful island, featuring the UNESCO World Natural Heritage ‘Ancient Beech Forests,’ its unique chalk coast, and the historic city harbor with Europe’s longest accessible pier, all ideally situated on the Baltic Sea, creating the perfect backdrop for SailGP. This event in Sassnitz will celebrate sustainable sailing while boosting the local economy and showcasing the region to a global audience.”
In the next 12 months, SailGP will collaborate closely with Sassnitz City Harbour and the Mecklenburg state in preparation for the event. More details about the Germany Sail Grand Prix, including ticket offerings, will be available soon. Interested fans can sign up for updates and ticket registration now at SailGP.com/Germany.
