The inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup brings together 28 boats and an international fleet featuring Olympic medallists, America’s Cup sailors, a Volvo Ocean Race winner and some of the class’s leading teams. Among the standout stories, Šime Fantela and Igor Marenić, who won Olympic gold together in Rio, are competing on rival boats.

Saint-Tropez is hosting the inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup from 12 to 17 October, bringing together 28 boats for a competitive week of racing. Organised by Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez, the event has attracted some of the leading names in the class, alongside sailors with experience at the highest levels of international competition.

One of the most compelling stories of the regatta is the reunion of Šime Fantela and Igor Marenić, who made history for Croatia by winning Olympic gold in the 470 class at Rio 2016. Ten years later, the two sailors are back on the same racecourse, but this time they are competing on different boats.

Fantela is racing aboard Stig, led by Alessandro Rombelli, while Marenić has joined Christian Zuerrer aboard Black Star. Their reunion as rivals adds another dimension to an already competitive fleet.

Olympic Medallists and America’s Cup Experience

The strength of the Cape 31 Gold Cup fleet extends well beyond its numbers. Olympic medallists, a Volvo Ocean Race winner and sailors with America’s Cup and SailGP experience are all lining up in Saint-Tropez.

Francesco Bruni, sailing with Lennard van Oeveren aboard Motions, served as a co-helmsman for Luna Rossa during the 2021 America’s Cup. Paul Campbell-James, another sailor with America’s Cup and SailGP experience, is competing aboard Akheilos with Ben Pritchard.

Olympic medallists are also well represented. Zsombor Berecz, who won Finn class silver at Tokyo 2020, is racing with Black Battalion. Mateo Majdalani, a silver medallist at Paris 2024, is part of the La Pericolosa crew.

Joca Signorini, a winner of the Volvo Ocean Race, joins Stefan Jentzsch aboard Black Pearl. Will Ryan is sailing with Marcus Brennecke aboard Hatari, alongside Nic Asher and Elliot Willis, the 2008 470 World Champions. Ryan won silver in the 470 class at Rio 2016 before taking Olympic gold at Tokyo 2020.

Champions Renew Their Rivalry

Another key storyline is the battle between some of the class’s most successful teams. Stig and Black Seal finished last year’s European Championship on equal points, underlining just how closely matched the leading boats have become.

Stig returns with Alessandro Rombelli and Šime Fantela, while Richard Thompson’s Black Seal 2 is also among the contenders. Their performances in Saint-Tropez will be closely watched as the leading teams face off once again.

Stig, the 2025 European Championship-winning team, has also claimed the 2026 Mediterranean Circuit title, arriving in Saint-Tropez with an impressive record. The Gold Cup offers another opportunity for the fleet’s strongest teams to measure themselves against one another.

An International Fleet of 28 Boats

The inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup features 28 boats, with Germany providing the largest national contingent. Eight boats represent the country: Hatari, H.E.A.T, lil’Desna, La Pericolosa, Black Pearl, Gecko d’or, halbtrocken 3.1 and Kalantis.

The fleet also includes Give Me Five, Khumbu, Black Star, Terrible Joy, Jubilee, Eker Süzme, Chocolate, Outrage by Sériès, GSpot, Stella Maris, K-Force jr, Firstings, Milkwave, Django and other competitive teams.

Among the local favourites are Adrien and Robin Follin aboard Give Me Five. The brothers won the 2024 Corinthian European Championship, and Adrien was instrumental in bringing the class to Saint-Tropez. Their involvement highlights the strong connection between the event and the local sailing community.

Other notable entries include Max Augustin’s H.E.A.T, Miguel Leitmann’s Firstings, Tony Dickin’s Jubilee and Ahmet Eker’s Eker Süzme.

A New Chapter for the Cape 31 Class

With its fast-paced racing and closely matched boats, the Cape 31 class continues to attract growing international interest. The inaugural Gold Cup brings together established champions, new teams and experienced sailors from across the sport.

Racing began on 12 October and continues through 17 October in Saint-Tropez. With Olympic champions now competing against former teammates, and last year’s European Championship rivals meeting again, the first Cape 31 Gold Cup is shaping up to be one of the class’s key events of the season.

Photos: Sailing Energy and Megan Robertson Bartholomew