H.E.A.T and Outrage by Sériès bring a new generation of Corinthian competition into focus as established teams battle for the inaugural title in Saint-Tropez.

The inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup has brought 28 boats to Saint-Tropez for an international contest in which established names and ambitious Corinthian teams are sharing the spotlight.

While the overall championship battle has developed through a closely contested series of races, several team stories have added another dimension to the event — from H.E.A.T’s championship pedigree to Outrage by Sériès’ challenge in the Corinthian division and Motions’ campaign with Francesco Bruni on board.

H.E.A.T: Three Years on Top, a New Class to Conquer

H.E.A.T arrive at the Cape 31 Gold Cup with an impressive Corinthian record. The team won the Melges 32 Corinthian World Championship three consecutive times, from 2022 to 2024.

The move into the Cape 31 fleet presents a different challenge. Against an international line-up of experienced teams, H.E.A.T are testing that championship experience in a new one-design class.

Their story reflects one of the defining themes of the Gold Cup: teams bringing experience from other classes into a fleet where every race demands a fresh performance.

Outrage by Sériès Take on an Established Fleet

Outrage by Sériès have also been part of the Corinthian story in Saint-Tropez. After eight races, the team sat third in the Corinthian division and 19th overall, taking on a fleet featuring experienced international competitors.

The result placed the team among the leading Corinthian contenders while underlining the challenge of competing across the full fleet.

Motions Lead the Corinthian Charge

Motions have emerged as another team to watch in the Corinthian contest. With Francesco Bruni on board, the team led the Corinthian division after eight races, with the rest of the crew competing in the Corinthian category.

Their performance has given the Corinthian battle a prominent place in the wider championship narrative, alongside the fight for the overall title.

Eight Races, Eight Different Winners

The depth of competition was clear after the first eight races, when eight different teams had claimed race victories.

Hatari won the opening race in light, shifting breeze. Khumbu, G-Spot and Eker Süzme then claimed victories on the second day, before Black Seal 2, Gecko d’or, Django and Kalantis each won a race on the third day.

The spread of winners highlighted the competitive nature of the fleet and the importance of consistency across the series.

Eker Süzme Set the Pace

Turkey’s Eker Süzme established itself as a leading contender during the opening stages. After eight races, the team led on 22 points, ahead of Khumbu on 39 and Hatari on 40.

The official results subsequently continued to develop as racing progressed, with Eker Süzme maintaining its position at the top of the overall standings in the latest published table.

The inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup has therefore offered more than a battle for the first title. It has also provided a stage for Corinthian teams to measure themselves against established names, and for different crews to make their mark in a fleet where race wins have been widely shared.

Reporting based on Cape 31 Gold Cup race reports and published results.

Photography: Sailing Energy | Cape 31 Gold Cup