“I scream on the water”: Maud Jayet shows the men of the Swiss Sail GP team how it’s done

Maud Jayet was seven years old when her parents enrolled her in the Club Nautique de Pully summer camp. The Swiss sailing team Alinghi won the America's Cup for the first time in 2003, sparking a sailing euphoria in the country. Jayet caught up in this enthusiasm and learned to sail as a young girl on Lake Geneva.

Twenty-two years later, Jayet returns, aboard a three-ton F-50 racing catamaran capable of speeds up to 100 km/h. At the Sail GP, high-speed boats fly across the water on foils. There are stops in Dubai, Sydney, New York—and now Geneva, among others . The courses are narrow, with yachts often speeding past each other within a few meters, and collisions occasionally occur. The Sail GP is also known as the Formula 1 on the water, with several races taking place over a single weekend. It's considerably less idyllic than when Jayet first started sailing.

The Swiss Sail GP team's racing boat has six crew members; Jayet is the only woman and is responsible for strategy. Among other things, she observes the opposing yachts, analyzes the wind—and, above all, avoids collisions. "My teammates always know in advance if something might happen—I scream on the water," says Maud Jayet.

"Initially, some in the sailing world thought we women were just figureheads on the boat," says Jayet. However, this appreciation has changed over the years; Sail GP is a place for equality. This year, Martine Grael from the Brazilian team will also be the first female helmsman in the racing series. Jayet hopes this trend will continue. She proposes holding one regatta per season in Sail GP with only women on board.

Little suggested that Jayet would one day become a professional sailor. "My parents were never sailors themselves and knew nothing about it," she says. After her first sailing camp in 2003, she continued, encouraged by her brother, who was also at the camp. Jayet also played tennis, went skiing, danced, and played the piano. But sailing was the only sport she enjoyed for a long time. "It was clear to me that I wanted to sail; I simply love being in or on the water," she says.

She improved steadily and competed. At 14, she competed in the World Championships for the first time, in the Optimist class, category: children under 15. Competition drove her on: "I hate boring training sessions where you sail straight ahead for hours," she says. Her goals became increasingly ambitious until the Olympic Games were within reach. Nevertheless, she never considered turning professional: "I'll compete in the Olympics, and when I get older, I'll quit and get a real job," Jayet told herself.

After graduating from high school, Jayet studied law part-time at the University of Lausanne. She also sailed as often as possible and pursued her Olympic dream, which came true in Tokyo in 2021. A year later, she finished second at the European and World Championships and began preparing for the next Games in Paris, where she was determined to win a medal.

In Paris, she narrowly missed the podium, finishing fourth. A huge disappointment. But Jayet kept going, and everything started all over again. "It was a difficult decision to continue," she says. She knows how much work preparing for the Olympics entails. She spends 250 to 280 days abroad, training constantly. Jayet says: "I've been sacrificing my social life for this for years."

She wears the Olympic rings on a gold chain around her neck. A medal on the biggest stage possible remains her goal. She clings to it when she questions the meaning of life. "This goal drives me every day. It motivates me to get up in the morning and work for it," she says. It's like a drug.

When she has a day off without training or appointments, she prefers to spend it at home in bed. "It sounds pretty lazy, but the best days off are the ones when I can afford to do nothing," she says. She then watches "teenage stuff" like the series "Vampire Diaries" or whatever else Netflix has to offer.

In December of last year, Jayet completed her master's degree in law and economics in Lausanne. She now fully dedicates herself to sport and even has time to sail with the Swiss Sail GP team. Being a lawyer and a strategist on board – it's a perfect fit. Jayet says she's precise, meticulous, and a perfectionist, whether in her career or in sports. "And I'm always right," she says with a laugh: "At least, I think so."

However, her years in elite sport have taught her that the pursuit of an Olympic medal can also drive her crazy. She has now resigned herself to the possibility that she could miss out on a medal in 2028 as well. "For me, Los Angeles will definitely be the last Olympic Games."

The Sail GP racing series made this decision easier. The Olympics are no longer her sole focus. She sees the future of her sport—and her personal life—in the high-speed regatta. At the moment, switching to an office job is unimaginable for Jayet.

At the Olympic Games, Jayet always sails solo. She makes all the decisions herself. At the Sail GP, however, she's part of a crew. At first, this was a big adjustment. Jayet learned to relinquish control and share responsibility. "That's very valuable because everyone on the team has so much to offer. I'm constantly learning," she says.

The 29-year-old says she wants to develop further through sailing. Sail GP is professionally organized, and the sailors are professionals. "It's my job," says Jayet. Earning a living solely through Olympic sailing is practically impossible.

The racing series is growing steadily, with the Sail GP attracting a particularly large audience in New Zealand and Great Britain. "There, 20,000 to 30,000 people come over the weekend to watch the regattas," says Jayet. The Grand Prix in Geneva is also sold out, with around 7,000 spectators expected.

The short, intense races last only 12 to 14 minutes; they are gripping and engaging for the audience. Furthermore, four races in an hour and a half make the events entertaining and easy to understand – even for non-sailors.

In Geneva, Jayet is now hoping for favorable winds. Everything that comes after that remains to be seen. She still has one more chance to exchange her gold Olympic necklace for a medal.