Four Irish Cape 31s will help to create the biggest ever Cape 31of 25 when the superfast sportsboat fleet gathers for this weekend's RORC Vice Admirals Cup on the Solent.
Irish champion Anthony O'Leary from Royal Cork leads Irish hopes with a threesome from Howth Yacht Club making up the Irish challenge. North Dublin's Dan O'Grady's Aja, David Maguire's Valkyrie and Darren Wright's Adrenaline will all be in action.
The class are days away from Round 1 of the Cape 31 Race Circuit at the 2023 Royal Ocean Racing Club Vice Admirals Cup. The Solent-based, inshore regatta (primarily for one-design classes) combines five classes for three days of intense, close racing across two courses. The Cape 31s have quickly become the most significant class at the event.
The 2022 Cape 31 Class National Championships featured a 21-boat fleet Photo: Rick Tomlinson
2022 Vice Admiral's Cup Champion and one of the founders of the UK Class, David Bartholomew, Tokoloshe, said, "We had 13 competitors at Vice Admirals last year, with almost double that this weekend. It's going to be awesome. The fleet has a lot of new talent, so I'm looking forward to an impressive lineup."
With six new teams to the fleet since the last UK Class Event, there are many new faces. It will be the first outing in the 31 Race Circuit for Nick Phillips Chaotic, Bertie Bicket's Fargo, Julian Metherell's Bullit, Ben Pritchard's Akhelios, Guy Gillon's Khumbu and Chris and Laura Anstead's Squirrel. Lance Adams' new Katabatic, K2, will also have her first outing of the year with the usual suspects on board.
Meanwhile, there is still no confirmation that the Cape 31s will race for Irish national honours at Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta.
Entries, regatta info and results are available here
