SailGP: Sailing at the limit

SailGP is a global racing series with identical high-performance catamarans, the so-called F50s. These boats are technical masterpieces: they ‘fly’ over the water at the appropriate speed - supported only by hydrofoils, i.e. hydrofoils under the hull. This allows them to reach extreme speeds and offer thrilling racing action in the tightest of spaces.

The speciality: all teams sail with exactly the same material. There are no technical advantages - all that counts is the skill of the crews. Several regattas take place around the world each season, e.g. in Sydney, Saint-Tropez or San Francisco. The individual races usually only last around 15 minutes, but are highly intense, tactical and perfectly staged for spectators - live and digitally.

In addition to its sporting ambitions, SailGP also focuses on sustainability and innovation: with carbon-neutral logistics, extensive data analyses and a clear goal of making sailing more accessible and sustainable.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: Sailing on foiling F50 catamarans, such as those used in the SailGP series, represents a completely new discipline compared to classic regatta sailing. The boats reach speeds of over 90 km/h, and even over 100 km/h at their peak - they literally ‘fly’ over the water. This dynamic requires extremely fast reactions from the crew and precise, coordinated manoeuvres in the millisecond range. The systems on board are highly complex: electric-hydraulic trimming, real-time data analysis, AI-supported decision-making processes and video evaluation are part of everyday life. The crew consists of just six people - with clearly defined roles, each with a high level of technical and tactical responsibility. It is a symbiosis of top-class sport, engineering skill and team precision.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: Our first race win in Dubai was a particularly emotional moment. After a difficult start to the regatta, we were able to impressively prevail in the fleet race - a success that was not only important in sporting terms, but also sent a strong signal for our team spirit and our development as newcomers to the league. This victory was a real milestone and showed us what potential we have.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: The SailGP is all about the perfect interplay of speed, technical precision and tactical understanding. The boat speed - the ‘pure speed’ - is the basis. But without exact trimming, precise foiling and sensitive fine-tuning of the rudders and wings, the potential remains unutilised. At the same time, the tactical component plays a central role: those who read the wind better, position themselves strategically and make the right decisions at the right moment will gain decisive advantages. Our close coordination between steering and strategy, especially between the driver and our tactician Anna Barth, is essential here.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: Mental preparation is an integral part of our concept. I myself work with so-called ‘brain jogging’ exercises - inspired by former ski racer Felix Neureuther. These involve coordination tasks, such as balancing on one leg in combination with ball catching and multi-sensory stimuli. The aim is to train the ability to concentrate and react under pressure. This is supplemented by structured routines such as data analyses, video evaluations and intensive briefings - before and after each race. These routines help us to be focussed and mentally stable at the start.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: We started with the aim of establishing ourselves among the top teams as quickly as possible and regularly competing for podium places. The first races were challenging, but we were able to show early on that we are competitive - the victory in Dubai was a strong example of this. We feel we are on the right track: the potential is there, now it's about building up consistency and delivering our performance in every event.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: In sporting terms, we aim to establish ourselves in the top group in the medium term - with regular participation in finals and realistic chances of overall victories. We also see it as our responsibility to make sailing in Germany more visible, modern and accessible. Through formats such as the SailGP Impact League and programmes such as ‘Inspire’, we want to promote sustainability, inspire young talent and build a bridge between professional sport and the promotion of young talent.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: If you want to make the leap into international professional sailing, you should gain experience in foiling early on - be it on the Moth, WASZP or Wingfoil. At the moment, Olympic sailing is probably still where you'll find the greatest concentration of talent, so a combination of these two paths is likely to give you the best chance of success. At the same time, mental strength is crucial: anyone who has to make split-second decisions needs mental flexibility and clear communication. Handling data and technology also plays a major role today. And last but not least: the ability to work in a team. Modern sailing is not a solo endeavour - it's about performing together in well-rehearsed roles.

Erik Kosegarten-Heil: For us, Sebastian Vettel is much more than a prominent co-founder or investor. He actively contributes his experience from Formula 1 - particularly in the areas of performance analysis, technical understanding and structured feedback. He has already completed test drives on board and is in regular dialogue with the team. After the races, he is often involved in the analysis process - he listens, takes notes and scrutinises details. This is not only valuable from a technical point of view, but also a strong sign of his genuine enthusiasm and commitment to the project.