As the Gotland Runt regatta brought the sailing elite to Sweden’s Sandhamn island, Range Rover joined forces with the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS) in a celebration of modern luxury and nautical adventure. At the centre of it all was professional sailor and Range Rover ambassador Julia Gross, charting a bold new course for women in the sport
Each summer, the sleepy Swedish island of Sandhamn transforms into the beating heart of the sailing world as the Gotland Runt regatta unfolds across the glittering Baltic Sea. This year, a new force joined the nautical scene: Range Rover, partnering with the Royal Swedish Yacht Club (KSSS), in a meeting of worlds where modern luxury meets the spirit of adventure.
At the centre of this partnership stands Julia Gross, one of Sweden’s most exciting sailing talents. Fresh from an impressive fourth-place finish at the Puig Women’s America’s Cup, Gross is using her platform to chart a new course for women in professional sailing. Appearing at the Range Rover Lounge on Sandhamn, a sleek hub for mingling, talks and live regatta updates, Gross shared her vision for the future of the sport.
“Partnerships like this one are incredibly important because they help amplify voices that have long been underrepresented in our sport,” Gross explains after the event. “When a brand like Range Rover chooses to stand behind a vision of progress and inclusion, it sends a powerful signal – not just to the sailing world, but to society more broadly.”
For Gross, the significance of such collaborations extends beyond visibility. “KSSS’s long time legacy and influence, together with Range Rover’s commitment to leadership and innovation, makes us able to create a platform that opens doors for the next generation of women in sailing, but also in sports in general. A collaboration like this, enhances the visibility and shared values shaping a new standard,” she says.
The parallels between Range Rover’s refined ruggedness and Gross’s life at sea are undeniable. “In both sailing and driving, you're navigating through elements that demand planning, control, intuition and adaptability. You must trust your instincts while also respecting the forces around you, whether it's the sea or in the terrain,” she reflects.
You must trust your instincts while also respecting the forces around you, whether it's the sea or in the terrain.
Julia Gross
Fresh from her career-defining moment at the America’s Cup, Gross is now setting her sights on fostering meaningful change. “The Puig Women’s America’s Cup was a turning point – not just for me, but for how I see my role in the sport going forward. Of course, I’m continuing to train and compete, but my deeper mission now is to create real, lasting change for women in sailing in Sweden.”
Key to this is her work within KSSS, a club she has been part of since childhood. “Together with my club KSSS, in which I have been a member since birth, I’m now focusing on helping to build clear career pathways for young female sailors. My goal is to be the role model I wish would have had growing up – and to help create a system where talent, not gender, defines your future in this sport.”
For Range Rover, the Gotland Runt partnership marks the first step in a broader journey. “We are so proud of our partnership with KSSS, and this first activation together is the perfect embodiment of both of our brands,” says Lars Larsson, CEO of Jaguar Land Rover Sweden. “Range Rover has always been drawn to the sea and the nautic lifestyle, where the rugged adventurous spirit is contrasted with a refined sense of modern luxury.”
With Gross helping to shape the future of Swedish sailing, and Range Rover steering the course of modern mobility, the journey is only just beginning.