Record-breaking fleet set for Inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup: 31 days to go

by Tor Tomlinson Cheney 12 Sep 17:24 BST 12-17 October 2026

Cape 31 class in Scarlino © Sailing Energy

28 teams from 12 nations are set to descend on Saint-Tropez for the first-ever Cape 31 Gold Cup — the largest fleet in class history, with more still possible.

With 31 days to go until the first-ever Cape 31 Gold Cup, a record-breaking international fleet is preparing to descend on Saint-Tropez.

Twenty-eight teams representing 12 nations are set to compete, creating the largest Cape 31 fleet ever assembled and with entries still open, that number could yet grow.

Cape 31 class in Scarlino - photo © Sailing Energy

The entry surpasses the previous Cape 31 fleet record of 26 boats, set at the 2023 UK National Championship in Lymington, and brings together teams from across the class's growing international fleets for four days of racing from 14-17 October.

Hosted by Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the inaugural Gold Cup will see teams representing France, Great Britain, Germany, South Africa, Switzerland, Monaco, the Netherlands, Türkiye, Italy, Hungary, Austria and Portugal converge on one of the world's most celebrated sailing venues.

A landmark moment for the Cape 31 Class

The creation of the Gold Cup marks a new chapter for the Cape 31, providing a standalone international event where teams from across the class can come together in one fleet.

August Schram, President of the International Cape 31 Class, said:

"I am incredibly proud to be part of the cutting-edge Cape 31 one-design class, and to see a record fleet come together for our inaugural Gold Cup in Saint-Tropez — one of the great centres of regatta sailing in the world."

Cape 31 Europeans 2024 in Sanremo - photo © International Cape 31 Class / ZGN

The record entry reflects the continued international growth of the Cape 31, with established fleets and racing programmes now bringing teams together from across Europe and further afield.

And for the first Gold Cup, some of the most successful teams in recent Cape 31 competition will meet on the same start line.

Champions converge on Saint-Tropez

Stig, winner of the 2025 Cape 31 European Championship in Palma, will line up alongside La Pericolosa, the 2024 European Champions from Sanremo, and Khumbu, fresh from victory at the 2026 UK National Championship.

They will be joined by a deep international fleet of established Cape 31 teams and new challengers, all competing to become the first name engraved on the Cape 31 Gold Cup.

With leading teams converging from across the international fleets — and a record number of Cape 31s sharing the same racecourse — the inaugural event is shaping up to be the biggest Cape 31 showdown yet.

Cape 31 class in Scarlino - photo © Sailing Energy

For Adrien Follin, who was instrumental in bringing the Gold Cup to Saint-Tropez and organising the event, seeing the scale of the inaugural event take shape is particularly special.

"It's really special to see the first Cape 31 Gold Cup coming together here in Saint-Tropez. To already have a record fleet of 28 boats from 12 nations is fantastic, and we're incredibly excited to welcome the whole Cape 31 family for what I think will be a really special week, both on and off the water."

From the first UK fleet to the first Gold Cup

For International Cape 31 Class Secretary and MED Circuit Manager Tor Tomlinson Cheney, the Gold Cup represents another milestone in the growth of a class she has been involved with since the first Cape 31s arrived in the UK.

"Having been involved with the Cape 31 class since the first boats arrived in the UK, it makes me incredibly proud to see how far the class has come and to now be bringing together a record international fleet for our first Gold Cup. Saint-Tropez feels like a very special place to mark that moment.

"We're hugely grateful to Adrien and everyone at Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez for the enthusiasm, hard work and support they've put into making this event happen. There is still plenty to do over the next month, but we can't wait to welcome all 28 teams in October."