The latest episode of Racing on the Edge, SailGP’s acclaimed behind-the-scenes docuseries, launches today with “Breaking Point: The Sassnitz Miracle.” Produced in partnership with Rolex, the film follows a weekend of relentless challenge at the Germany Sail Grand Prix in Sassnitz, where teamwork and unyielding resolve were pushed to the limit – and redemption emerged in the most unexpected way.
Set against blistering winds and fierce seas, the episode reveals how teams grappled with the extremes of the sport; conditions so wild that Nicolai Sehested and his ROCKWOOL Racing Denmark team set a new official SailGP speed record, clocking 103.93 km/h.
“Speed records are meaningful because of the feeling you have when it’s happening,” Sehested reflects. “That speed, racing these boats at the limit. We’re here for those few seconds where everything just comes together, and the boat just goes so fast. Those 10 seconds just feel better than anything else.”
But the weekend was also defined by setbacks and resilience. In official practice racing on Friday, Brazil were forced to withdraw from the event after suffering irreparable boat damage, while France endured a terrifying moment when their F50’s rudder snapped at over 90 km/h. Driver Quentin Delapierre was taken to hospital as a precaution but cleared of injury, and the SailGP tech team worked overnight to repair the boat and clear it to race the following day. Emirates GBR faced their own catastrophe after a major collision on day one, relying on the team to deliver yet another a race-against-time repair to make the start on championship Sunday.
One of the most defining moments came off the water, when SailGP CEO Sir Russell Coutts gathered the drivers to discuss whether racing should continue after a day marked by crashes and intensifying conditions. He left the decision with the athletes, who opted to push on.
“I understand why people might be concerned… but we sign up for that risk, and we’ve got to be comfortable with it,” said BONDS Flying Roos driver, Tom Slingsby.
The final day in Sassnitz delivered the kind of sporting drama that defines the Rolex SailGP Championship. A high-stakes battle that showcased not only the resilience of the boats, but also the determination of the athletes who race them. In the end, France sealed a remarkable victory.
“It’s a super nice feeling. It’s why we sail, it’s why I’m a high-level athlete,” said Delapierre. “There’s just so much adrenaline and happiness. We just want to win – I want to win.
The next stop on the 2025 SailGP calendar is the DP World Spain Sail Grand Prix | Andalucía-Cádiz, taking place on October 4-5. Spain marks the final European stop in the 2025 calendar before the Grand Final in Abu Dhabi in November.
little granger
Sport Trivia: Where did Naas Botha play his first test match for South Africa? Answer: Wanderers – Naas Botha was selected to play for South Africa at Rugby Union after playing for the SA Under 20 squad. He made his debut against South America on 26 April 1980 at the Wanderers Stadium, recognised as a cricket ground. This was due to the fact that Ellis Park had been demolished in 1979 to be rebuilt.
Bad Beh8vior
Australia has a strong domestic rugby competition called the National Rugby Championship (NRC), which features clubs from across the country. In addition, Australian franchises participate in the Super Rugby competition, competing against teams from New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina, and Japan.