Barcelona is host to the FEI Jumping Nations Cup™ Final 2023 this weekend, and the Swiss riders competing at the event used the opportunity to meet up with compatriots that are at the top of their game in another demanding sport – sailing. On Friday, Swiss team members Martin Fuchs and Alain Jufer as well as Swiss coach Thomas Fuchs and Chef d’Equipe Michel Sorg met with world-class sailing athletes at the Alinghi Red Bull Racing team base in Port Vell, Barcelona, to gather and exchange ideas as well as talk about their experiences.

Alinghi Red Bull Racing team members showed the Swiss equestrians around the new base, which officially opened last Thursday. Swiss sailor Lucien Cujean provided an up-close tour of the AC40 boats that raced in the Preliminary Regatta and AC75 BoatZero used for training.

“It was very interesting to have discussions, talk about our mutual passion of sport and all the details that go into the preparation,” said Lucien Cujean, who plans to attend the Nations Cup Final this weekend to cheer on his Swiss compatriots, in a press release. “They had the chance to see how we organize our boat and our days of sailing. I think there’s a common vision of sports performance.”

“The mindset at the elite levels is the same and we share that characteristic,” said Martin Fuchs in the press release. “You need to stay really focused, you need to be calm and work well with your colleagues and your partners. For us, it's the horse and for Alinghi Red Bull Racing it is the boat that you must get to know and have the feeling for it. That's very similar to us in showjumping.”