ROCKWOOL Denmark SailGP Team returns to action in Bermuda this weekend, as the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix returns to the island for the first time since 2022.
The ROCKWOOL team – led by Nicolai Sehested – will be desperate to avenge a dramatic showing in New Zealand last time out, which saw it collide with two other boats on the start line in Christchurch.
That incident saw the Danish receive four penalty points in the season rankings– levelling the playing field in the race for an end of season podium – plus significant damage to its port bow. Ahead of sailing in Bermuda’s Great Sound, Sehested explains the ROCKWOOL boat has been repaired and is good to go.
“We’re happy with how the boat is looking, and we can’t wait to get back out sailing – we have to say thanks to our Shore Team for doing a great job putting us back together for this event,” he says.
“We’ve taken our learnings – and we accept that it was not a good preparation for our team. We didn’t get any sailing on Race Day 1, we didn’t get a warm up, and I’m sure if you put Formula 1 drivers on the grid without any warm up laps, you’d see a lot of issues at the first corner.”
He adds: “There were many factors which contributed to the collision in New Zealand, but ultimately we accept it was our responsibility, and we’ve taken our medicine on it – now we move on.”
The penalty points mean that ROCKWOOL Denmark sits in fifth place in the Season 4 rankings, five points off the podium spots, and that has increased the pressure on Sehested and the team with four events left to race.
“We are still in the mix. We have plenty of racing to go, and we know that we have opportunities to close the gap, so we are positive about it. It’s an opportunity. We can compete with any team in SailGP on our day, and now we have to go and make it count,” explains Sehested.
“The goal remains unchanged – we want to make that Grand Final at the end of the season. Our approach will be the same, which is to put together consistent racing, stay out of trouble, and keep picking up the points.”
Strategist Katja Salskov-Iversen returns to the team in Bermuda, as Olympic champion Anne Marie Rindom steps off due to training for the upcoming Olympic Games.
To watch the Apex Group Bermuda Sail Grand Prix, head to SailGP.com/watch. Racing begins at 1400 local time.
