Stig Crowned 2025 Cape 31 Med Circuit Champion After Nail-Biting Finish
by Tor Tomlinson Cheney 8 Oct 2025 06:19 BST
2025 Cape 31 Med Circuit © Tor Tomlinson Cheney
After one of the tightest seasons in the Cape 31 Med Circuit's history, Alessandro Rombelli's Stig has been crowned 2025 Cape 31 Med Circuit Champion, edging Drew Freides' Pacific Yankee by just a single point after five fiercely contested events.
The title fight came down to the final event in Palma, where Pacific Yankee claimed victory, but Stig's seventh-place finish was enough to seal the championship — 12 points to 13. Give Me Five completed the overall podium on 14 points and also retained their Corinthian / One Pro title for the second consecutive year.
All teams will be officially presented with their trophies and medals during the Cape 31 European Championship in Palma (16-19 October).
Season Recap
The 2025 Med Circuit featured five world-class events across the Mediterranean: Hyères, Porquerolles, San Remo, Imperia, and Palma. 23 top teams from 16 Nations competed across the season to be crowned the 2025 champion!
The season opened in Hyères, where Michael Wilson's Shotgunn set the tone with an emphatic win ahead of Give Me Five and Stig. In Porquerolles, a chartered entry skippered by Nikolai Burkart — MeerBlick — stunned the fleet with a debut regatta victory. Burkart has since acquired his own Cape 31 and will make his first appearance as an owner at the Europeans.
By San Remo, Stig had found their stride, winning the regatta ahead of Give Me Five and Kalantis, while Pacific Yankee finished just off the podium. The Italian stop in Imperia saw Stig consolidate their lead, setting up a tense finale in Palma.
The final round in Palma delivered the kind of drama only one-design racing can produce. Pacific Yankee delivered a dominant performance with multiple race wins to take the event, but Stig's consistency across the season secured the overall crown by the narrowest of margins.
Corinthian / One-Pro Champions
Give Me Five not only took third overall but also successfully defended their Corinthian / One-Pro title, reinforcing their status as the benchmark in the amateur and mixed-pro division. Motions and Terrible Joy rounded out the Corinthian podium.
"It's been an incredible season of tight racing," said Alessandro Rombelli, owner-driver of Stig. "Every event came down to the last race, and we're thrilled to come out on top against such a talented fleet."
"This season showcased just how competitive and international the Cape 31 fleet has become," said Victoria Tomlinson Cheney, Cape 31 Med Circuit Manager. "We've seen new owners, charter teams and Corinthian crews all battling for race wins — it's exactly the kind of growth and energy we love to see ahead of the Europeans."
What's Next
The 2025 Med Circuit trophies and medals will be presented during the Cape 31 European Championship in Palma, hosted by RCNP from 16-19 October. A record 25 boats from 13 nations are expected to compete, promising another thrilling showcase for the rapidly growing one-design fleet.
2025 Med Circuit Overall Results: (top three)
1 Stig - 12 pts
2 Pacific Yankee - 13 pts
3 Give Me Five - 14 pts
Corinthian / One Pro Overall Results: (top three)
1 Give Me Five
2 Motions
3 Terrible Joy
About the Cape 31 Med Circuit
The Cape 31 Med Circuit brings together top professional and Corinthian sailors to race identical, high-performance Cape 31s across the Mediterranean's premier venues. The circuit continues to grow rapidly, combining world-class racing, accessible competition, and a vibrant international community both on and off the water.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Boat Name | Round 1 | Round 2 | Round 3 | Round 4 | Round 5 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | Stig | 3 | ‑24 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 12 |
| 2 | Pacific Yankee | ‑24 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13 |
| 3 | Give Me Five | 2 | 5 | 2 | 5 | ‑24 | 14 |
| 4 | Kalantis | ‑24 | 4 | 3 | 8 | 3 | 18 |
| 5 | Shotgunn | 1 | ‑12 | 5 | 11 | 8 | 25 |
| 6 | Black Seal | ‑24 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 5 | 32 |
| 7 | Adrenaline | 5 | 11 | 7 | 10 | ‑24 | 33 |
| 8 | La Pericolosa | 4 | 2 | 24 | ‑24 | 4 | 34 |
| 9 | Warrior Won | ‑24 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 12 | 35 |
| 10 | Firstings | ‑24 | 9 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 44 |
| 11 | Motions | 6 | ‑24 | 9 | 16 | 13 | 44 |
| 12 | Eker Süzme | 24 | ‑24 | 8 | 4 | 9 | 45 |
| 13 | Terrible Joy | 7 | 7 | 24 | ‑24 | 11 | 49 |
| 14 | K‑Force jr | 8 | 24 | 11 | 6 | ‑24 | 49 |
| 15 | Stella Maris | 24 | 3 | 24 | ‑24 | 2 | 53 |
| 16 | Black Star | 24 | 15 | 24 | 3 | ‑24 | 66 |
| 17 | Black Battalion | 24 | 14 | ‑24 | 15 | 14 | 67 |
| 18 | MeerBlick | 24 | 1 | 24 | 24 | ‑24 | 73 |
| 19 | halbtrocken 3.1 | 24 | 13 | 24 | 12 | ‑24 | 73 |
| 20 | Squirt | 24 | 24 | 13 | 14 | ‑24 | 75 |
| 21 | Jiraffe | 24 | 24 | 24 | ‑24 | 6 | 78 |
| 22 | IMAGINE | 24 | 16 | 24 | 24 | ‑24 | 88 |