2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Series in Hyères - Overall
by Tor Tomlinson Cheney 27 Sep 06:58 PDT
24–26 September 2026
2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Series in Hyères Overall Winners © Sailing Energy / Cape 31 Class Association
La Pericolosa takes Hyères victory as Eker Süzme finishes with double bullet
La Pericolosa has won the final round of the 2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Series in Hyères, closing out three varied and demanding days of racing at the top of the 20-boat fleet.
After Friday's heavy easterly breeze and steep seas, the final day brought another change in conditions - a lighter, shiftier easterly - with two races completed to bring the regatta total to eight.
The standout performance of the day came from Turkey's Eker Süzme, who produced a perfect final day with back-to-back bullets in races 7 and 8. Those two wins lifted them to second overall, tied with Stig but taking second on countback.
Eker Süzme was pushed hard throughout the day, with Gecko d'or, Chisum, Stella Maris and Stig all fighting closely at the front of the fleet.
Eker Süzme's Sam Gilmour was delighted with the way the team finished the regatta:
"It was a great day — it couldn't really have gone any better. We were looking at the results this morning and said we'd be happy if we could move up one or two places, so to come away with second overall, we're over the moon.
"It wasn't our most consistent weekend, but three race wins is a great result and a really good way to head into the Gold Cup. It's getting harder out there — there are a lot of quick boats, and getting off the start line well is so important.
"It's great to see the fleet growing, and I think the Gold Cup is going to be awesome with 28 boats."
For La Pericolosa, the victory capped a remarkably consistent regatta. The team led after both opening days and, even after a retirement in race 4, immediately responded with a second and a first to retain control of the leaderboard.
Speaking after the victory, Michele highlighted both the strength of the team and the quality of competition in Hyères:
"The crew work is always the best on La Pericolosa. The speed team is fast, so we are fast. It's a super nice venue, the fleet is super tight and there are top sailors around — Olympic champions and all the best. This is what we want from the Cape 31: top level, top pros."
Stig completed the overall podium in third, with Stella Maris fourth and Django fifth.
The Corinthian / 1 Pro competition also went right down to the final race. Chisum and Motions went into race 8 separated by just two points, leaving the title completely open.
Chisum then produced one of their best races of the week, taking second across the full fleet to secure the Corinthian / 1 Pro victory. They finished 11th overall, having also opened the regatta with a bullet in race 1.
Motions took second in the Corinthian / 1 Pro standings, with new team Outrage by Series completing the podium in third.
Across eight races, Hyères produced an exceptional variety of conditions and a deep spread of race winners. Chisum, Stig, Eker Süzme, Give Me Five, Django and La Pericolosa all claimed victories during the event, with Eker Süzme signing off the regatta in emphatic style with two wins on the final day.
The regatta concluded with a prize-giving at COYCH, hosted by club president Jacques Espuna, with prizes presented alongside a representative from the City of Hyères and Cape 31 International Class President August Schram.
Schram thanked the COYCH team for their support throughout the week and spoke about the excitement building ahead of the Cape 31 Gold Cup in Saint-Tropez, where 28 boats are expected to line up next month.
The Hyères regatta brings the five-round 2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Series to a close, with attention now turning firmly to Saint-Tropez and the Cape 31 Gold Cup.
Overall Results:
| Pos | Bow No | Boat Name | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | R6 | R7 | R8 | Pts |
|---|
| 1 | 56 | La Pericolosa | 2 | 2 | 7 | (RET) | 2 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 26 |
| 2 | 50 | Eker Süzme | 8 | ‑15 | 1 | 7 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 32 |
| 3 | 76 | Stig | ‑11 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 4 | 6 | 32 |
| 4 | 65 | Stella Maris | 7 | 7 | 2 | (RET) | 4 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 34 |
| 5 | 82 | Django | 6 | ‑10 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 9 | 7 | 37 |
| 6 | 7 | Khumbu | 3 | 9 | 11 | 2 | 7 | 4 | 5 | (DNF) | 41 |
| 7 | 17 | Gecko d’or | 9 | 8 | ‑10 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 44 |
| 8 | 59 | GSpot | 10 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 5 | ‑13 | 9 | 56 |
| 9 | 33 | Terrible Joy | 12 | ‑16 | 8 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 6 | 10 | 64 |
| 10 | 5 | GIVE ME FIVE | 4 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 3 | (DNS) | DNS | DNS | 70 |
| 11 | 58 | Chisum | 1 | 19 | 12 | 9 | (RET) | 14 | 15 | 2 | 72 |
| 12 | 43 | Niramo | 5 | ‑18 | 3 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 77 |
| 13 | 63 | Black Battalion | 19 | 11 | 13 | 12 | (RET) | 9 | 16 | 8 | 88 |
| 14 | 69 | Black Seal 2 | 17 | 13 | 4 | (RET) | 12 | RET | 11 | 11 | 89 |
| 15 | 38 | Motions | ‑20 | 14 | 16 | 5 | 10 | 13 | 14 | 17 | 89 |
| 16 | 66 | halbtrocken 3.1 | 13 | 6 | ‑19 | 11 | 13 | 11 | 19 | 16 | 89 |
| 17 | 42 | Black Pearl | ‑16 | 12 | 14 | 15 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 89 |
| 18 | 80 | Kalantis | 15 | 3 | 17 | 13 | (RET) | DNS | 7 | 15 | 91 |
| 19 | 2 | Outrage | 18 | ‑20 | 18 | 14 | 16 | 17 | 17 | 12 | 112 |
| 20 | 51 | Team Chocolate | 14 | 17 | ‑20 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 114 |