The town of Sassnitz on the island of Rügen will host the first-ever Germany SailGP event on August 16-17, 2025, it has been confirmed.
The region’s iconic chalk cliffs and picturesque harbor will provide the stunning backdrop as the league’s 11 foiling F50s go head to head for glory, with Erik Heil’s home team leading the charge.
The event is set to be one of the largest international sailing events ever held in the country, with Sassnitz - located in the north east of Germany and overlooking the Baltic Sea, providing optimal conditions for SailGP’s unique style of close-to-shore fleet racing.
Sassnitz overcame stiff competition from other bidding locations to host Germany’s inaugural SailGP event. The venue was chosen due to favorable sail racing conditions of the Baltic Sea and close proximity to the action for fans watching from the shore.
SailGP CEO Russell Coutts said the event would build on Germany’s ‘proud history of hosting successful international sporting events’.
“we are excited to bring SailGP’s unique style of high-speed, adrenaline-fueled racing with grandstands erected onshore to provide German fans fantastic close up views of the action for the very first time,” he said.
“We’ve seen strong signs of growth in Germany, and we know the country’s passionate racing fans will get behind the event and the Germany SailGP Team’s home debut.”
It comes after Germany SailGP Team just completed its inaugural season in the league, climbing a steep learning curve to show signs of promise across the 13-event championship.
Double Olympic medallist Erik Heil leads the team as driver alongside fellow German crew members including strategist Anna Barth and grinders Jonathan Knottnerus-Meyer and Felix van den Hövel.
The German team also boasts a star-studded ownership team, including Thomas Riedel, CEO of communications company Riedel Communications and four-time F1 World Champion Sebastian Vettel.
Reacting to the news, Heil said it would be ‘a huge honor’ to lead the team at its first ever home event.
“Since we launched the team, the ambition was to bring a SailGP event to Germany and we can’t wait to perform in front of our own fans alongside the best teams and athletes in the sport.”
Sebastian Vettel added: “This event will be a landmark moment for SailGP in Germany and will help attract and engage a new fan base and shine a light on Germany’s new favorite national team.”
SailGP’s 2024/2025 Season will be the league's most expansive to date with events spanning five continents. Kicking off in Dubai on November 23-24, 2024, the series will make stops in world-class destinations, including Rio de Janeiro, New York, Sydney and Geneva.
More information about the Germany Sail Grand Prix | Sassnitz will be available soon. Be the first to know when tickets go on sale and receive up-to-date event information as soon as it’s available by registering your interest below.
