Cape 31 Mediterranean Circuit Heads to Puntaldia for Round 2

by Tor Tomlinson Cheney 15 May 06:48 BST 15-17 May 2026

Cape 31 Med Round 1 at Porto Cervo © Sailing Energy

The Cape 31 Mediterranean Circuit arrives in Sardinia this week for Round 2, hosted by Marina di Puntaldia and Yacht Club Marina Puntaldia from 15-17 May.

Following a strong opening event to the season, the fleet now looks forward to one of the Mediterranean circuit's most spectacular venues, with racing set against the stunning backdrop of Sardinia's north-eastern coastline.

After a week of Mistral winds across the region, the forecast for the weekend is shaping up well, with teams anticipating excellent racing conditions as competition resumes on Friday.

Competitors have been in Puntaldia all week preparing frot he next stage of the circuit, before the opening races get under way at midday on Friday. The weekend programme combines competitive racing with a full schedule of onshore hospitality and entertainment, including daily after-race gatherings in the paddock, a crew party at Il Marino Restaurant on Saturday evening, before the final prize-giving at the Regatta Village on Sunday.

Round 2 marks another important step in the growing momentum of the Cape 31 Mediterranean circuit, with teams enjoying both the high-performance racing and the unique mix of sailing, lifestyle and destination venues that define the circuit.

"We're excited to be returning to Sardinia for Round 2, and to be visiting Puntaldia for the first time as a class," said Tor Tomlinson Cheney. "It's a beautiful venue both on and off the water, and the combination of great racing conditions, excellent hospitality and a fantastic social programme should make this a real highlight of the season."

Cape 31 Med Round 1 at Porto Cervo - photo © Sailing Energy

A strong international fleet from across Europe will line up in Puntaldia, with entries from Great Britain, Germany, the Netherlands, Italy, Austria, Portugal, Turkey, Hungary and the Isle of Man.

Round 1 champions Alessandro Rombelli's Stig return to Sardinia looking to defend their winning form after taking victory in Porto Cervo. Second-placed Michael Wilson's Shotgunn will also be pushing hard for the top step this weekend, once again lining up with Stu Bithell and Luke Patience on board.

Third-placed Kalantis will not race in Puntaldia, leaving the podium wide open in what remains one of the most competitive one-design fleets on the Mediterranean circuit. With the potential for slightly stronger breeze than the fleet often experiences in Sardinia, conditions this weekend could produce a very different leaderboard and shake up the established order.

Puntaldia will also mark the debut of Hatari's brand-new Cape 31, delivered from the Cape Performance Sailing in Cape Town. Backed by an experienced team and with Nic Asher joining the crew, the fleet will be watching closely to see how quickly the new campaign finds its rhythm against the established frontrunners. Returning teams including K-Force Jr, Hatari, Shotgunn, Squirt and Black Pearl will be joined by a mix of Corinthian and professional talent, further underlining the growing depth and competitiveness of the Cape 31 Mediterranean fleet.

Among the professional sailors competing this weekend are Olympic medallists, world champions and experienced international campaigners including Luke Patience, Stu Bithell, Ian Ainslie, Sime Fantela, Sam Gilmour and Zsombor Berecz, adding further intensity to the racing expected across the three-day regatta.

With a competitive fleet expected on the start line and ideal conditions forecast for the weekend, Puntaldia is set to deliver another memorable chapter in the 2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Series.

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