Although Switzerland is a landlocked country, the SSL Sailing Center located in Grandson plays an important role in training, qualification, and team building within the league.
Each year, the SSL Sailing Center welcomes athletes from around the world who attend official training sessions on SSL 47 one-design yachts. Every new team joining the league has the opportunity to come to Europe and begin the challenge without any costs. Last summer, the center in Grandson was fully booked by sailors from Ecuador, Australia, Mozambique, Seychelles, Oman, Serbia, Portugal, and many other countries.
First experience onboard
Teams stepping onboard for the first time receive full support from SSL. The league provides professional coaches, shore team assistance, accommodation, food, and help with transfers. Coaches and shore crew conduct workshops that cover the most important aspects of sailing larger boats, as well as key information about the yacht itself.
During the first sessions on the SSL 47 yachts, a coach is always onboard to guide activities and ensure safety, which is the highest priority for SSL.
Team training
Year by year, the SSL yacht fleet continues to grow. This development, which started during the long and demanding winter at the SSL boatyard, creates more opportunities during the sailing season. SSL 47 yachts are regularly maintained, refurbished, and ready to sail, with new boats also joining the fleet.
Teams participating in qualifiers and the SSL Gold Cup Finals have access to training on Lake Neuchâtel, along with support such as accommodation, coaching, and full shore team services.
Training sessions usually last between 5 and 7 days and include onshore workshops. These sessions often feature meetings with Olympians, deeper insight into the SSL vision, better understanding of the SSL47 yachts, and media coverage opportunities.
The mission of SSL is to bring nations from all over the world into the Star Sailing League. A significant step toward this goal was seen during the Asian qualifiers, where emerging nations such as Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Korea took part in the event. The goal? Invite all the nations in the world to the SSL family.