A year of dialogue, culture, and sporting excellence

The Gstaad Yacht Club began 2025 with a season shaped by knowledgesharing, cultural exchange, and sporting achievement. January opened with an insightful lecture by Dr Beat Walpoth on hypothermia and its relevance to both sailors and skiers, followed by a discussion on global water scarcity with Prince Jean de Luxembourg, who spoke about his personal engagement with the issue.
February continued with a strong cultural focus. A full-house event featuring Swiss artist Not Vital explored artistic inspiration and future projects, while film screenings, book presentations, and further cultural gatherings reinforced the Club’s position as an intellectual meeting place in the region.

March marked the return of the much-loved Interclub Ski Yachting, combining alpine sport with nautical spirit from the Eggli slopes to the Gstaad swimming pool. The event concluded with a festive prize-giving dinner celebrating camaraderie and winter sportsmanship, accompanied by a keynote address from Sir Robin Knox-Johnston.

Over the summer months, the programme gained further momentum. Conferences resumed in June and culminated in August with the Gstaad Cultural Encounters, confirming the GYC’s role as a platform for international dialogue. Speakers included Beatrice Cointreau and Boet Brinkgreve, CEO of the Switzerland SailGP Team, followed by a strong August line-up featuring Simon Njami, Stefano Rabolli Pansera, Brunello Cucinelli, and Arturo Galansino –together forming one of the Club’s most substantial cultural editions to date.

On the sporting front, the GYC Racing Team recorded notable achievements both in Switzerland and abroad. In August, Anja von Allmen claimed the U23 European Championship title in the ILCA6 class at the European Championships in Sweden, marking a significant milestone for Swiss sailing and the Saanenland region.

International competition also featured prominently later in the season. The GYC’s 49er crew, Joshua Richner and Nilo Schaerer, competed at the World Championships in Sardinia, finishing 29th in a highly competitive fleet of 84 teams. At the same time, Elena Lengwiler reached the semi-finals of the Formula Kite

World Championships, securing a strong sixth place after a challenging start to the season.

Another highlight came from GYC member and professional sailor Simon Koster, who, alongside co-skipper Nicolas D’Estais, completed the transatlantic race from Le Havre to Martinique aboard the IMOCA Café Joyeux, finishing first among the centreboard boats and 13th overall.

Youth engagement remained a cornerstone of the programme with the return of the Kids Sailing Weekends on Lake Arnensee, introducing children and teenagers to sailing through on-water sessions and the Virtual Sailing Experience.

The season concluded during Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, where the Gstaad Yacht Club once again hosted the Centenary Trophy, reinforcing its long-standing ties with the international yachting community and rounding off a year that reflected the Club’s distinctive blend of sport, culture, and conversation.

GYC