Lake Geneva played host to a homecoming with a twist this past weekend, as the Rolex Switzerland Sail Grand Prix brought high-speed F50 catamaran racing back to the city on September 19 and 20 — with the local team now carrying the name of a cruise brand born just metres from the water.
The Explora Journeys Swiss SailGP Team, skippered by Swiss driver Sébastien Schneiter, raced in front of a home crowd, and the brand behind the name was clearly moved by the occasion. Explora Journeys president Anna Nash called it a particularly special moment, noting that Geneva is where the company was founded and that seeing its livery on an F50 racing across Lake Geneva brought the partnership to life. Explora is headquartered in the city, making this the closest thing the team has to a true home regatta.
The racing delivered too. Schneiter's squad, one of the youngest outfits on the SailGP circuit, fought its way into Sunday's final race, and the driver said the energy of the local supporters gave the team extra motivation to push hard.
The partnership itself is fresh. Explora Journeys — the luxury ocean and river cruise line from the MSC family — became title partner of the Swiss team earlier in 2026, unveiling its fully branded F50 catamaran and crew kit in Bermuda before the season got underway. The team now continues its campaign across the rest of the 2026 SailGP Championship calendar.
The weekend wrapped up with a private reception at La Société Nautique de Genève, the storied yacht club, gathering partners, media and invited guests to celebrate SailGP's return to the city.
For travellers, the takeaway is twofold. First, Geneva has re-established itself as a stop on the SailGP world tour, meaning spectators can potentially pair top-flight sailing with one of Europe's most polished city breaks — lakeside promenades, easy rail links and the Alps within reach. Second, the link-up signals how cruise brands are embedding themselves in sport and destination events, which often translates into guest experiences, race-viewing opportunities or themed sailings further down the line for those following the Explora story.
If a SailGP weekend in Geneva returns next season, it's worth watching the calendar: grandstand seating along the lakefront, the compact city centre and the mountain backdrop make it one of the more scenic stops in the series.
