Cape31 International Class Association

Latest Class News

C31 News

Trinity Racing — Trofeo Princesa Sofía 2026

Med Circuit30 Mar 2026

Trinity Racing Claims Cape31 Victory at Trofeo Princesa Sofía 2026

In a fiercely contested regatta off Palma de Mallorca, Trinity Racing demonstrated exceptional consistency across the race series to take honours at this prestigious Mediterranean event — a landmark result for the growing European C31 fleet. Black Seal 2 leads the early 2026 Med Circuit standings.

Read Report →

Med Circuit18 Mar 2026

Cape31 Med Circuit 2026 Set for Biggest Season Yet — 21 Teams

The 2026 Cape31 Mediterranean Circuit opens in Porto Cervo on April 24 with 21 confirmed teams — the biggest season in the circuit’s history. Sailing Energy is the official media partner for all five events.

Med Circuit →

Europeans 202520 Oct 2025

STIG Clinch Tight Cape31 European Championship on Countback — 25 Boats, 13 Nations

Alessandro Rombelli’s Stig claimed the 2025 Cape31 European Championship in Palma on countback from Black Seal, with Flying Jenny 3rd and Pacific Yankee 4th. The most competitive Europeans in the class’s history.

UKJun 2025

UK Nationals 2025 — Flying Jenny Back-to-Back Champion at Royal Yacht Squadron

Sandy Askew’s Flying Jenny secured a second consecutive UK National title at the Royal Yacht Squadron, Cowes. At Cowes Week 2025, Cape31s won five trophies including the Britannia Cup — beating a professional TP52 crew.

UK Fleet →

Global Fleets Racing Worldwide

Cape31 Regions

Cape31 has grown from its Cape Town origins into a truly global class with active fleets across seven regions. Each territory manages its own racing calendar, connected through the Cape31 International Class Association and the central Class Management System.

🇬🇧

United Kingdom

The Solent · Cowes · RLYC · RSYC
Most active fleet · 29 boats

🏆 2025 Champion: Flying Jenny — Sandy Askew

Visit UK Fleet →

🇪🇺

Europe / Med

Porto Cervo · Bonifacio · Saint-Tropez
Fastest growing · 21 teams 2026

🏆 2025 Champions: Stig & Give Me Five — Rombelli

Visit Med Circuit →

🇸🇦

South Africa

Royal Cape YC · Table Bay · V&A Waterfront
Origin fleet · 8 boats

🏆 2024/25 Champion: Nitro — Hayton / Rae

Visit SA Fleet →

🇺🇸

United States

SF Bay · Newport · Key West · NYYC
Winning on IRC · 11 boats

🏆 Rolex BBS ORC: Pacific Yankee — Drew Freides

Visit US Fleet →

🇦🇺

Australia & NZ

Hamilton Island · Sydney · Pittwater · Fremantle
6+ boats · Growing fleet

🏆 Flagship: Hamilton Island Race Week

Contact ExCom →

🇭🇰

Hong Kong

Royal Hong Kong YC · Discovery Bay · Aberdeen
Active 2024 · South China Sea

Base club: RHKYC Est. 1849

Contact ExCom →

🇮🇪

Ireland

Royal Cork YC · RCYC · Crosshaven · Dun Laoghaire
Growing fleet · IRC & ISORA

🏆 Notable: Antix — Anthony O’Leary (Hull 28)

Contact ExCom →

🌍

Your Region

Scandinavia · Japan · New Zealand · Pacific
Minimum 3 boats to form a recognised fleet

New fleets welcome worldwide

Get In Touch →

Mark Mills Design · Built Cape Town

The Cape31

A grand prix high-performance 31-foot race boat. Conceived by Lord Irvine Laidlaw, designed by Mark Mills and built by Cape Performance Sailing in Cape Town. Proven supreme one-design and handicap performer under IRC and ORC. Speeds in excess of 25 knots downwind.

9.55m

LOA — 31ft

8.75m

LWL

3.05m

Beam

1,800kg

Displacement

2.45m

Draft

62m²

Upwind Sail Area

7–8

Crew

595kg

Max Crew Weight

True One-Design

All hulls, rigs and appendages unmodified. Racing decided by crew skill, not budget. Max 3 professionals per crew. The class polices this hard and means it.

Container-Shippable

C31 and 2-piece mast fit a standard 40ft container. International campaigns genuinely affordable. Race the Solent, ship to the Med, take it to Cape Town. Many owners already do.

Proven Handicap Winner

2× overall at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. 1–2–3 at UK IRC Nationals. Rolex Big Boat Series class winner. Giraglia Rolex Cup IRC 1 inshore — beating every TP52 on corrected time.

From Cape Town to Six Continents

How It Spread

2016

South Africa

Class established in Cape Town. Table Bay racing under the Cape Doctor. The boat proves itself immediately against established fleets. Lord Irvine Laidlaw’s Flame leads the founding fleet at the Royal Cape Yacht Club.

2020

United Kingdom

Mike Bartholomew ships Tokoloshe to Cowes in a container. Five founding boats. Immediate IRC wins against 40–50 footers. Dave Swete builds the UK class and race circuit from the Solent. From five boats to the largest high-performance one-design Cowes Week had seen since the Mumm 30 days.

2022

Mediterranean

Med circuit launches. Palma, St Tropez, Imperia, Giraglia. 2026 sees 21 teams — Cape31s beating TP52s on corrected time at the Giraglia Rolex Cup. The fastest-growing circuit in the class.

2023

United States

Pacific Yankee (Drew Freides) takes ORC and IRC class wins at the NYYC Annual and Rolex Big Boat Series. First time out in both. Fleet now building on both coasts. Sandy Askew ships to England and wins back-to-back UK Nationals.

2024

Australia & Hong Kong

Six boats at Hamilton Island Race Week. Hong Kong fleet established at RHKYC — racing between the islands with the South China Sea backdrop. Mateusz Kusznierewicz (Olympic champion) sails Aspire POL 17 in European events.

Where Next?

Scandinavia. Japan. New Zealand. The Pacific circuit. The Cape31 is proven in every condition from Cape Town gales to South China Sea trades. The class is open. Minimum three boats to form a recognised regional fleet. Contact the ExCom.

2026 International Race Calendar

2026 Regattas

Full Calendar in CMS →

All class-approved regattas. One-design results from all circuits contribute to the Cape31 International Championship. Full NORs, entries and live results via the Cape31 Class Management System.

Mar 2026

Trofeo Princesa Sofía — C31 Class ✓

Palma de Mallorca, Spain · RCNP · Trinity Racing wins

EU CircuitComplete

Apr 2026

Cape31 Med Circuit — Round 1 — Porto Cervo

Porto Cervo Marina, Sardinia · YCCS

Med Rd 1EU Circuit

May 2026

Cape31 Med Circuit — Round 2 — Scarlino

Scarlino Yacht Club, Tuscany, Italy

Med Rd 2

May 2026

Cape31 UK Race Circuit — Round 1 — Royal Yacht Squadron

Cowes, Isle of Wight

UK Rd 1

Jun 2026

Cape31 Med Circuit — Round 3 — Bonifacio

Bonifacio, Corsica, France

Med Rd 3

Jul 2026

Cape31 UK National Championships

Cowes, Isle of Wight · Royal Yacht Squadron

UK NationalsUK Fleet

Jul 2026

Cape31 Med Circuit — Round 4 — Puntaldia

Puntaldia, Sardinia, Italy

Med Rd 4

Aug 2026

Cowes Week C31 Series

Cowes, Solent, UK

UK Fleet

Sep 2026

Cape31 Med Circuit — Round 5 — TBC

Mediterranean · Venue TBC

Med Rd 5

Sep 2026

Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez

Saint-Tropez, France · YCPR · International mixed fleet

InternationalEU Circuit

Oct 2026

Cape31 European Championship 2026

Palma de Mallorca, Spain · Championship

Championship

2026

TBC

Cape31 Gold Cup 2026 — NEW International Event

Venue TBC · The class’s premier international prize · All regions

Gold CupInternational

Enter a Regatta via CMS

International Fleet Register

The Global Fleet

Full Register in CMS →

80+ Cape31s built and racing worldwide. Showing 13 of 39 registered 2024 class members across 13 nations. Full register with sail buttons and measurement certificates in the Class Management System.

Hull	Boat	Sail No.	Owner / Helm	Flag
9	Jiraffe	GBR 315X	Simon Perry	🇬🇧
15	Squirt	GBR 311X	Giorgio Tortorolo	🇬🇧
19	Flying Jenny	USA 81567	Sandy Askew	🇺🇸
27	Black Star	SUI 27	Christian Zuerrer	🇨🇭
28	Antix	IRL 3128	Anthony O’Leary	🇮🇪
35	Shotgunn	IOM 31	Michael Wilson	🇮🇲
38	Motions	NED 3138	Lennard van Oeveren	🇳🇱
55	Aspire	POL 17	Kusznierewicz / Gacek	🇵🇱
57	Essentia	ROU 1001	Catalin Trandafir	🇷🇴
62	Pacific Yankee 🏆	USA 62	Drew Freides	🇺🇸
65	Stella Maris	AUT 3165	August Schram	🇦🇹
74	Warrior Won	USA 31074	Chris Sheehan	🇺🇸
76	Stig 🏆	ITA 3176	Alessandro Rombelli	🇮🇹

Showing 13 of 39 registered 2024 class members. 🏆 = 2025 Champion. Full fleet register with sail buttons, IHC certification and owner details in the CMS.

View Full Fleet Register

Class Authority — Rules, Constitution & Technical

Class Rules & Governance

All Cape31 class documents are maintained by the International Class Association and published via the Cape31 Class Management System. The class is governed by the International Class Constitution and the One-Design Class Rules.

Class Rules

The complete one-design specification. Hull, deck, rig, keel, rudder, sail dimensions, equipment requirements and eligibility criteria. All hulls are identical — no modification permitted.

Open Class Rules →

Constitution

The governing document of the Cape31 International Class Association. ExCom structure, voting rights, AGM procedures, fleet recognition criteria and the framework for regional delegated authority.

Open Constitution →

Measurement

Every boat racing under the Cape31 one-design class rules must hold a valid measurement certificate. New builds are measured at Cape Performance Sailing in Cape Town before delivery.

Measurement Docs →

Technical Committee

Technical Decisions

Technical decisions clarify the application of the Class Rules. All decisions are binding and apply to all fleets globally from the date of publication. Made by the Technical Officer in consultation with the ExCom.

TD-001 — 2024 — Spinnaker Pole Length

Maximum spinnaker pole length clarified as J measurement. Applies to all fleets with immediate effect.

TD-002 — 2024 — Crew Weight Limit

Maximum crew weight and crew number confirmed at five persons. Measurement at weigh-in includes personal safety equipment.

TD-003 — 2025 — Professional Sailor Definition

A professional sailor is defined as any person who has received payment for sailing services in the preceding 12 months. Maximum three per boat in one-design racing.

All Decisions via CMS → Submit TC Query →

IRC & ORC Mixed Fleet Racing

The Cape31 holds IRC and ORC ratings and is fully eligible for all RORC, ORC and IRC events worldwide. Designed to win in mixed fleets before the one-design class existed.

1.135

IRC Rating

493.3

ORC APH

Notice of Race — NOR & Sailing Instructions

Standard Cape31 NOR and Sailing Instructions templates are available to all regional circuits and host clubs via the CMS. Pre-approved by the ExCom and compliant with World Sailing Racing Rules.

Access via CMS →

International Class Governance

Executive Committee

The ExCom is elected by class members at the Annual General Meeting. It sets class rules, approves new fleet applications, governs measurement and maintains the International Class Constitution. Circuit directors and technical officers are non-voting appointments operating under ExCom authority.

ExCom Chair

Lance Adams

Katabatic — Hull 49 · excom@cape31class.org

Class Secretary (non-voting)

Tor Tomlinson-Cheney

Med Circuit Director · secretary@cape31class.org

Technical Officer (non-voting)

Andy Wibroe

Class Rules & Measurement · technical@cape31class.org

Circuit Director — UK (non-voting)

Dave Swete

Racing Yachts · dave@racingyachts.com · (+44) 7470 686717

Annual General Meeting

AGM — All Class Members

All registered class members may attend and vote. Rule change proposals require advance notice to the Secretary and a two-thirds majority. secretary@cape31class.org

Start a New Fleet

New Regions Welcome

Minimum 3 boats to form a recognised fleet. Scandinavia, Japan and New Zealand are priority targets. Contact ExCom with country, venue and fleet director candidate. excom@cape31class.org

Cape31 Class Management System

Class Management System

The Cape31 CMS — built for the class, by the class. Race entries, results, fleet register, measurement certificates and class administration across all regions.

Regattas

Calendar, notices, NORs and live results. Enter events and manage class-approved regatta schedules across all regions.

Open in CMS →

Boats & Sail Buttons

Full fleet register with IHC sail button certification, Atlas Vakaros integration and owner details for all registered hulls.

Open in CMS →

Entries & Crew

Enter regattas, manage your crew roster with WS Sailor IDs, monitor crew weights and professional sailor limits, pay entry fees online.

Open in CMS →

Race Results

Race results and standings by regatta. Sailwave CSV export for official scoring. Full season championship standings per series.

Open in CMS →

Class Fees

Class membership fees, regatta entry fees and ad-hoc payments via Stripe. Fee allocation and sticker number tracking for all boats.

Open in CMS →

Cape31 Class Management System

Owner, ExCom and Admin access levels. Manage your boat, enter regattas, pay fees and manage crew online.

Race Pure.Cape31.

C31 News

Trinity Racing Claims Cape31 Victory at Trofeo Princesa Sofía 2026

Cape31 Med Circuit 2026 Set for Biggest Season Yet — 21 Teams

STIG Clinch Tight Cape31 European Championship on Countback — 25 Boats, 13 Nations

UK Nationals 2025 — Flying Jenny Back-to-Back Champion at Royal Yacht Squadron

Cape31 Regions

The Cape31

True One-Design

Container-Shippable

Proven Handicap Winner

How It Spread

2026 Regattas

The Global Fleet

Class Rules & Governance

Class Rules

Constitution

Measurement

Technical Decisions

Executive Committee

Class Management System

Regattas

Boats & Sail Buttons

Entries & Crew

Race Results

Class Fees

Cape31 Class Management System

Class Partners