Sassnitz becomes SailGP's speed laboratory

SASSNITZ, Germany — A year ago, the Danish team set a new F50 all-out speed of 56.1 knots (64.6 mph). Over the Germany Sail Grand Prix weekend, several teams broke the record, only to lose it a few minutes later to a rival.

First Germany, then Brazil, then Great Britain all set the bar higher during Saturday's practice session. Then, in racing, the Danes regained their record — but only for a second, as the French went even faster in the same gust.

Delapierre drives France to new benchmark

Quentin Delapierre and the French drove the number to a new benchmark of 58.1 knots (66.9 mph), exactly 2 knots faster than the Danish record, which had stood for a year.

Brackish water and cold air behind the surge

Why were so many records broken in Sassnitz? According to Alex Reid, SailGP's head of technology, it's because of the low salinity and colder temperature of the water in the Baltic Sea.

"The brackish water here allows the boats to travel at higher speeds," he told The Athletic. "And the colder air temperature means the wind is more dense."

Which also translates to more power through the wingsail. Sassnitz is becoming the undisputed high-speed track of the SailGP tour, a reputation that could loom large when the fleet regroups in Valencia, Spain, for the next event on Sept. 5 and 6.