Cape 31 UK Season roaring back to life this weekend

Cape 31 Jiraffe & Akheilos © Paul Wyeth / RORC

The UK Cape 31 Class Race Circuit roars back to life this weekend at the Royal London Yacht Club — and all signs point to a seriously competitive season ahead.

As the fleet gathers in Cowes, the docks are buzzing with anticipation. With new teams, major crew moves, and the return of familiar faces, 2025 is shaping up to be another exciting season for the Cape 31 UK class.

One of the biggest stories of the season is the debut of Swift Half, co-owned by Ben Ward and Anthony Wheatley. Expectations are high for the new entry, who we'll be seeing for their first outing at Round 2. Meanwhile, Chaotic sits out this year while its skipper heads off on another adventure — but fans of fast, tactical sailing won't be disappointed. Ben Saxton steps in to join Ben Pritchard on Akheilos, and after strong performances in 2024, this duo could be one to watch closely.

There's been movement within the Khumbu camp too. Some of last year's champion crew have shifted from Christian Hamilton's Khumbu Red over to Guy Gillon's Khumbu Black Hull 42, setting the stage for some spicy intra-fleet rivalries. And on Bullit, Julian Metherell is now joined by none other than Elliot Hansen and Chris Taylor — a serious talent scoop for an already competitive campaign.

The regular contenders are back as well — Flying Jenny, Katabatic, Jiraffe, and Jubilee — all ready to renew old rivalries and chase silverware. We're also hoping to see appearances from Richard Thompson's Black Seal this season, another serious threat in the mix.

A few teams/boats are off to enjoy the circuit in the Mediterranean, testing themselves against the international fleet — but their absence could be a blessing in disguise for the UK scene. With a slightly smaller but tighter fleet, we're expecting closer, more tactical racing than ever before.

The Corinthian/1 Pro division looks competitive again this year too, with Narwhal, Squirrel, Toucan, and Flurg all shaping up to be key players. With plenty of racing ahead, this could be one of the most hotly contested divisions of the season.

In exciting news — we're BACK at Cowes Week this year! The Cape 31s will be racing a dedicated three-day mini series from 3-5 August while mixing it up with the bigger boats for trophies like the Britannia Cup.

2025 UK Cape 31 Season Calendar:

• Round 1: Royal London Season Opener | 25 April - 27 April
• Round 2: Royal Southern YC 1 | 16 May - 18 May
• Round 3: UK National Championship | 20 June - 22 June
• Round 4: Royal Lymington YC | 4 July - 6 July
• Round 5: Cowes Week Mini Series | 3 August - 5 August
• Round 6: Vice Admirals Cup - Season Finale | 5 September - 7 September

Racing starts on Friday 25th in the Solent with our debut at Royal London Yacht Club. We look forward to being hosted by a new club both in and off the water.

Thank you to North Sails for the International and UK support already this season!

Stay tuned on the Cape 31 UK Instagram and Facebook pages for real-time updates and all the behind-the-scenes action. For full entries, regatta info, and live results, head to the official Cape 31 Class Regatta Portal.