The BONDS Flying Roos have reclaimed their lead in the 2025 Season standings after securing a hard-fought podium finish in Geneva amid chaotic, ‘street fight’ light-air conditions at the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix.
Mother Nature unleashed unpredictable racing conditions on the Super Sunday of racing, with an incoming storm cell turning Lake Geneva into a challenging race track. Teams scrambled for any hint of breeze, leading to delayed races and a constantly shifting leaderboard.
Mubadala Brazil was unable to compete due to a collision with a mark just before the start of racing on day two, which left their F50 damaged.
Tom Slingsby, driver and CEO of the BONDS Flying Roos, commented, “Conditions like today are some of the toughest you’ll face, drifting into finish lines, wind up and down, sometimes no wind at all. Even the race marks were being shifted between races.” He noted that the chaotic nature of the racing made it feel like they had to freestyle their tactics.
Despite the challenges, the Aussie crew managed to secure a second-place finish in the Podium Final, facing off against Germany, who took first, and home team Switzerland, who finished third. Slingsby acknowledged that they had been thrown off balance by a last-minute change to the race schedule, which forced them to start from behind. He praised Germany for their solid performance, stating, “They stayed clear of trouble, nailed the start.”
While second place underscores the Australian team’s improving performance in light winds, traditionally a weakness, Slingsby expressed his competitive nature, saying, “The day I’m happy with second is probably the day I should stop racing.” He reiterated the need to focus on the positives, including the points earned towards the championship.
The result elevates the BONDS Flying Roos to the top of the 2025 leaderboard with 76 points, narrowly ahead of Great Britain (75 points) and New Zealand (73 points). With only two events remaining before the $3M winner-takes-all Grand Final in Abu Dhabi, the Australian team is keenly focused on reclaiming the Championship Trophy.
Looking ahead, the BONDS Flying Roos prepare for the next event in Cádiz, Spain on 4-5 October.
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