Twenty Cape 31 Teams Set for Thrilling Mediterranean Season Finale - The Showdown is Hyères

Cape 31 Mediterranean Circuit in Scarlino © Sailing Energy

The championship battle reaches its conclusion as the fleet welcomes new teams and prepares for the inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup.

The Cape 31 Mediterranean Circuit heads to Hyères, France, from 24-26 September for the fifth and final round of its 2026 season, with 20 teams entered and the overall championship title to be decided.

Following four spectacular events across Italy and France, the fleet arrives on the French Riviera for one final showdown before turning its attention to the inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup in Saint-Tropez next month. With reigning champion Stig leading the standings, the arrival of the newly crowned UK champions Khumbu and a host of established and emerging teams joining the fleet, Hyères promises a fitting conclusion to the Mediterranean racing season.

The 2026 circuit has already taken competitors from Porto Cervo and Puntaldia in Sardinia to the dramatic coastline of Bonifacio, Corsica, and the Tuscan waters of Scarlino. Each venue has delivered its own challenges, with closely fought racing and an increasingly competitive international fleet setting the stage for the season finale.

Four rounds, three different winners

The opening four rounds of the 2026 Mediterranean Circuit have produced three different event winners.

Alessandro Rombelli's Stig began its title defence in style, claiming victory at the season opener in Porto Cervo. The Italian team was followed by Michael Wilson's Shotgunn in second and Kalantis in third, establishing an early advantage in the championship standings.

Round 2 in Puntaldia saw Hatari take the overall victory, with Ahmet Eker's Eker Süzme finishing second and Richard Thompson's Black Seal 2 completing the podium.

In Bonifacio, August Schram's Stella Maris claimed its first event victory of the season, ahead of Stig and Shotgunn, before returning to the top of the podium at Scarlino in July.

The Austrian team secured its second consecutive event win in Tuscany, this time with young Austrian sailor Carla Waltersdorfer stepping into the helming role in Schram's absence. Christian Schwoerer's La Pericolosa took second, with Hatari completing the podium.

With three different winners across four events and several teams regularly featuring at the front of the fleet, the final regatta in Hyères brings the season's racing to a close with plenty still at stake.

The championship battle reaches its conclusion

Heading into the final round, reigning Mediterranean Circuit champion Alessandro Rombelli and Stig hold the overall lead on 13 points, following a remarkably consistent season that has included a victory in Porto Cervo and three further top-six finishes.

Stella Maris sits second overall on 17 points, having climbed through the standings with consecutive victories in Bonifacio and Scarlino.

Michael Wilson's Shotgunn currently occupies third place on 19 points, closely followed by La Pericolosa on 20 points. Richard Thompson's Black Seal 2 and Vittorio Lombardi Stronati's Django complete the current top six, on 24 and 25 points respectively.

With Shotgunn absent from the Hyères entry list, the final event presents an important opportunity for the teams competing in France to reshape the championship standings.

For Stig, the challenge is to defend the title it claimed in 2025, while Stella Maris arrives with the momentum of two consecutive regatta victories. La Pericolosa, meanwhile, will be looking to build on its impressive second-place finish in Scarlino.

The final overall standings will be determined following racing in Hyères, with the 2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Circuit champions formally crowned at the opening reception of the inaugural Gold Cup in Saint-Tropez on 13 October.

New faces join the international fleet

Alongside the championship battle, Hyères will welcome a number of teams adding fresh energy to the Mediterranean fleet.

Among those joining the final round are German teams Niramo, owned by Sönke Meier-Sawatzki, and halbtrocken 3.1, owned by Michael Berghorn.

Niramo arrives following an impressive summer of racing, including victory in the ORC C division at the 44th Copa del Rey MAPFRE in Palma, where five Cape 31s competed among a 21-boat fleet. The team's arrival in Hyères provides an opportunity to return to one-design competition against its fellow Cape 31s.

Guy Gillon's Khumbu also arrives in Hyères fresh from an outstanding season on the UK circuit, having secured both the 2026 Cape 31 UK National Championship and the overall UK season title. The British team will be looking to carry that winning form into the Mediterranean fleet as it prepares for the inaugural Gold Cup in Saint-Tropez.

Nikolai Burkart's Gecko d'or is also among the entries, adding further depth to the fleet alongside returning competitors from across Europe.

Young French owner Victor Bordes joins the fleet with Outrage

The French contingent is strengthened by the arrival of 24-year-old Victor Bordes, who has recently purchased Cape 31 hull number 2 and will make his Mediterranean Circuit debut in Hyères with his young amateur team, racing under the name Outrage.

Having invested in preparing and upgrading the boat, Bordes and his crew are looking forward to gaining valuable racing experience against the established Mediterranean fleet ahead of the Gold Cup.

Their arrival is another encouraging example of the next generation of owners entering the class, bringing fresh enthusiasm and new talent into an increasingly established international racing community.

With Outrage now officially entered, the Hyères fleet stands at 20 boats, providing a fantastic platform for both the championship contenders and newcomers to conclude the 2026 Mediterranean season.

A final test before the inaugural Gold Cup

Hyères will provide the fleet with its final opportunity to line up against one another before the first-ever Cape 31 Gold Cup, hosted by the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez from 12-17 October.

With an international fleet preparing to gather in Saint-Tropez, the Gold Cup marks a major milestone for the Cape 31 Class, bringing together established teams from across its international circuits for four days of racing from 14-17 October.

For those competing in both events, Hyères offers a valuable opportunity to refine boat handling, crew coordination and performance before the fleet reconvenes just a few weeks later.

With the Mediterranean Circuit title to be settled and the Gold Cup on the horizon, the final round promises three days of closely contested racing both for the championship contenders and for the growing number of teams establishing themselves within the class.

From the Class Manager

"It's hard to believe we're already heading into the final event of the season! We've had an incredible year of racing, with three different regatta winners, new teams joining the fleet throughout the summer and some fantastic battles right across the championship standings.

"It's especially exciting to see new owners and younger sailors coming into the class. Welcoming Victor and his young French team on Outrage in Hyères is a lovely example of the continued growth we're seeing, and we're also looking forward to having teams like Niramo and the newly crowned UK champions, Khumbu, joining us for the final round.

"With Stig defending their title, Stella Maris coming off two consecutive wins and La Pericolosa also in contention, there is still plenty to play for. It's going to be a fantastic way to finish the Mediterranean season before we bring everyone together in Saint-Tropez for our first-ever Gold Cup."

Follow the action

Racing takes place in Hyères from Thursday 24 to Saturday 26 September 2026.

Follow the Cape 31 Mediterranean fleet throughout the final round on Instagram at @cape31eu, with photography and event coverage from Sailing Energy.

Full entry list, event information and results: Hyères 2026 - Cape 31 Class Management System

Class website: www.cape31class.com

The Cape 31 Class would like to thank its Mediterranean Circuit partners, North Sails and Henri Lloyd, for their continued support throughout the 2026 season.