Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team Builds Momentum with Second Consecutive Final
by Explora Swiss SailGP Team 26 Jul 14:24 PDT
25-26 July 2026
The Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team finish 4th in the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix 2026 © SailGP
The Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team continued its strong run of form in the SailGP Championship, securing a second consecutive Final appearance and a race victory at the Emirates Great Britain Sail Grand Prix in Portsmouth.
Returning to the iconic waters of the Solent for the opening event of SailGP’s European season, more than 20,000 fans witnessed spectacular racing in conditions exceeding 20 knots as the fleet battled through one of the most demanding weekends of the season.
Building on its third-place finish in Halifax earlier this month, the Swiss team once again demonstrated its growing ability to compete consistently at the front. Racing in Group B alongside Great Britain, Sweden, the United States, Germany and France, the team posted finishes of 3rd, 2nd and 4th on Saturday, ending the opening day third overall and well positioned for Super Sunday.
Driver Sébastien Schneiter was encouraged by the team’s opening-day performance.”Really nice conditions here in Portsmouth. We had a solid day and loved the breeze. We just missed a few seconds on each start to put ourselves on the front foot. We’re all in for Super Sunday and determined to make that Final again.”
Sunday brought another day of high-wind racing, demanding precision, commitment and complete trust across the crew. The Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team responded strongly, delivering a commanding victory in the final fleet race to secure its place in the four-boat Final for the second consecutive event.
The Swiss crew made a strong start in the winner-takes-all Final and immediately put itself in contention for the event title. As the race developed, however, the team was unable to convert its early position and ultimately crossed the line in fourth.
The result brought some disappointment, but the wider trajectory is clear. A podium in Halifax, a race victory in Portsmouth and back-to-back Finals demonstrate a Swiss team increasingly capable of competing at the front of the SailGP fleet. In demanding conditions on the Solent, precision, teamwork and a deep understanding of the ocean were again at the heart of the performance.
Strategist Maud Jayet reflected on a result that also demonstrated how far the team’s expectations have moved.”We’re disappointed because once you make the Final, you want to win it. But there is a lot we can take from this weekend. Winning the final fleet race and making another Final shows the progress we are making as a team. Now we want to turn that consistency into results.”
With a podium in Halifax followed by a race victory and another Final in Portsmouth, the Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team is establishing itself as an increasingly consistent presence at the front of the fleet.
The ambition for the remainder of the European season is clear: keep pushing the boundaries of performance and turn that progress into victories.
