Ahmet Eker’s Turkish team wins the first Gold Cup by 17 points after ten races and a record 28-boat championship fleet. Django finishes second, with Hatari completing the podium.

SAINT-TROPEZ, FRANCE — 17 October 2026

Eker Süzme have made history by winning the inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup in Saint-Tropez, France, finishing 17 points clear of Django after four days of racing and ten races in a record 28-boat fleet.

Owned by Ahmet Eker, the Turkish team secured the title with 41 net points, ahead of Vittorio Lombardi Stronati’s Django on 58 and Marcus Brennecke’s Hatari on 63.

The championship, held from 12 to 17 October, brought together an international fleet for the first edition of the Gold Cup. Its defining statistic was the spread of competition: ten different teams won the ten races, underlining the depth of the Cape 31 class.

Eker Süzme Holds Firm Under Pressure

Eker Süzme began the final day with a 17-point advantage, but the title was not yet secure. The team had already used its discard on a 21st-place finish in race five, meaning its final results would count in full.

With a limited window of breeze available, the race committee managed to complete two final races after four races on Friday. Eker Süzme finished ninth and tenth on the final day, enough to protect its lead and claim the championship with 41 points.

The result capped a consistent performance from a team whose crew has been sailing together for two years. That continuity proved valuable across a week of changing conditions and close racing.

For Eker, the inaugural title also reflected the growth of the class and the strength of the fleet assembled in Saint-Tropez.

Django Climbs to Second as Hatari Secures Third

The fight for the remaining podium places remained open until the final races.

Django started the final day in fourth overall. A 13th-place finish in race nine was followed by second in the final race, lifting the Italian team to second overall on 58 points.

Hatari, which won the opening race of the championship, finished third on 63 points. Despite a challenging final race, the team held on to its podium position.

Stig, the 2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Circuit champion, won race nine and finished fourth overall on 69 points. Khumbu also ended on 69 points but placed fifth on countback after a difficult final day.

The closeness of the standings was evident throughout the fleet, with individual race results repeatedly reshaping the overall order.

Ten Races, Ten Different Winners

The inaugural Gold Cup produced ten different race winners: Hatari, Khumbu, G-Spot, Eker Süzme, Black Seal 2, Gecko d’or, Django, Kalantis, Stig and Chisum.

Chisum, owned by Andrea Castrucci, won the final race ahead of Django and Black Seal 2. The victory was particularly notable because Chisum was competing in the Corinthian division, giving the amateur category a race win against the full fleet.

The variety of winners reflected a championship in which no single team dominated every day and small gains around the course could make a significant difference to the standings.

Motions Wins the Corinthian Title

In the Corinthian division, Lennard van Oeveren’s Motions took the title with 109 points. Chisum finished second on 121, while Outrage by Sériès placed third on 146.

Motions had established control of the division from the second day, maintaining its position through the final races.

Van Oeveren highlighted the depth of Corinthian competition as an important sign for the class, showing that teams without a professional crew can remain competitive in a demanding one-design fleet. He also praised the opportunity to sail alongside experienced talent and learn from the tactical knowledge brought into the team.

A Strong Start for the Gold Cup

The first Cape 31 Gold Cup concluded with a record 28 boats, ten races and ten different winners, providing a competitive launch for a championship intended to bring the international fleet together.

Mediterranean Class Manager Victoria Tomlinson Cheney praised the event and the development of the class, noting how much had been achieved since the Gold Cup was first conceived.

The organisers also acknowledged the Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, event organiser Adrien Follin, race officer Clément and the race committee, umpires, jury, measurers and the Sailing Energy photography team.

With Eker Süzme as the first Gold Cup champions and Motions leading the Corinthian division, the inaugural edition delivered both a clear overall winner and close competition throughout the fleet.

Overall podium

1. Eker Süzme — 41 points
2. Django — 58 points
3. Hatari — 63 points

Corinthian podium

1. Motions — 109 points
2. Chisum — 121 points
3. Outrage by Sériès — 146 points

Photography: Sailing Energy