Hyères Delivers a Spectacular Opening Day as Cape 31 MED Season Finale Gets Underway
The final round of the 2026 Cape 31 Mediterranean Series got off to a spectacular start today, with 20 teams enjoying three thrilling races in the conditions that make Hyères such a favourite among sailors.
After a two-hour postponement while waiting for the wind to fill in, the patience of the fleet was rewarded with glorious westerly breeze, flat water and building conditions throughout the afternoon.
With three different race winners and close battles throughout the fleet, the opening day provided an exciting start to the final showdown of the Mediterranean season.
For August Schram, owner of Stella Maris , the opportunity to race in Hyères is particularly special, with the venue's rich Olympic sailing heritage adding to the occasion.
"The reputation of this place is incredible. We have Olympians on board who talk about the history of sailing here and how special it is to race in these waters. Today, Hyères delivered exactly that for us."
Stella Maris finished the opening day in second place overall, with Schram highlighting consistency as the key to their performance.
"Consistency is key. We had a small change in the crew, but everyone was really focused and we worked well together. It's super tight, and anything can happen over the next two days!"
Three races, three different winners
Chisum claimed the opening bullet of the day, while Khumbu came out firing, leading the fleet around the first windward mark. La Pericolosa also made an impressive start, finishing second in the opening race and establishing themselves as one of the teams to watch.
Race 2 delivered one of the day's most exciting battles, with La Pericolosa leading around the course, only for Stig to snatch victory on the final downwind leg.
Eker Süzme saved their best performance for the final race of the afternoon, taking a commanding victory and crossing the finish line with a substantial lead over the chasing fleet.
There were standout performances throughout the fleet, with Give Me Five and G-Spot both showing impressive pace, while newcomers Niramo made an immediate impression with a podium finish on their first day of racing in Hyères.
Khumbu makes its mark on the Mediterranean fleet
Fresh from winning the UK Cape 31 season and National Championship, Guy Gillon and his Khumbu team made an immediate impression in Hyères, demonstrating their pace against the larger Mediterranean fleet.
"It's a much busier start line, with the fleet almost double the size of what we're used to in the UK. It was good for us to test our legs. We were fast, but we made a few manoeuvre errors, so we'll try to iron those out tomorrow."
Competing in Hyères for the first time, Gillon was equally enthusiastic about the venue and the scale of the fleet.
"It's a great setup and amazing to see so many boats lined up. The wind is good, it's warm, so we're very happy!"
La Pericolosa takes the early lead
After three races, La Pericolosa leads the overall standings on 11 points, with Stella Maris second on 16 and Stig third on 17. Just six points separate the leading three teams heading into the second day of racing.
The fleet returns to the water tomorrow, with stronger breeze forecast and plenty still to play for in both the regatta and the Mediterranean season standings.
The 2026 Cape 31 MED Series champions will be crowned at the opening reception of the inaugural Cape 31 Gold Cup in Saint-Tropez next month.
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