The SailGP Team from Germany finally won their first event on Sunday at the Switzerland Sail Grand Prix, in light winds that made the waters of Lake Geneva barely cooperate with the high-tech race machines.

In Sunday's high stakes final, Germany won the podium ahead Australia and Switzerland. Mother Nature was reluctant to cooperate but the conditions were still some of the best foiling of the day.

Australia's reclaim of the lead in the season standings was a result of the victory. With 76 points, Australia has regained its overall position. New Zealand, usually a dominant team, fell to third with only 73 points following a forgettable weekend. Britain remained in second place with 75 points.

The support of the crowd was amazing. They were cheering right on the track," said Germany's Erik Kosegarten Heil.

"And today, again, when you look at it, the weather is not the most accommodating - but the people are happy to have us." I think we did a great job considering the weather conditions.

The German victory caps an impressive turnaround for a crew that has been on a steep learning slope since Season 3 when they joined the championship. The team suffered a 32-point penalty at the Sydney event earlier this season, which put them in a significant position in the standings.

Storm clouds and wind speeds below 28 km/h made for a challenging racing environment. Germany took advantage of the opportunity by winning the fourth fleet race, and Heil's third place finish in race 5 secured enough points to qualify for their first event final appearance.

The weekend was the second final for Switzerland, which matched their third place finish in Portsmouth.

Sebastien Schneiter, a Swiss driver, said: "It is great to do another final and it's extra special that we are doing it in our own country." It shows the character of the team to be able deliver under pressure.

SailGP, a global sailing competition launched in 2019, pits national teams in high-speed racing on identical F50 foiling catamarans capable of speeds exceeding 50 knots. (Editing by Pritha Sakar)

(source: Reuters)