Cape 31 UK Series Round 1 – Royal Yacht Squadron

Cape 31 – UK Series Round 1 – Royal Yacht Squadron, 8–10 May 2026, Cowes, United Kingdom  |  A new chapter in the Cape 31 campaign now takes Black Star Sailing to the south coast of Great Britain this May. Cowes on the Isle of Wight hosts the opening round of the Cape 31 UK Series 2026 – a championship that brings new venues and a distinct set of challenges for Black Star.

Cowes is one of the great names in international sailing. Major regattas have been held here since the 19th century, and generations of sailors have shaped the town’s rich heritage. The Royal Yacht Squadron, host of this opening event, ranks among the most prestigious yacht clubs in the world. Its clubhouse in the historic Cowes Castle, guarding the entrance to the Solent, is far more than a landmark – it stands as a symbol of the long history of yacht racing in these waters.

Cowes is not unfamiliar territory for Black Star Sailing. The team competed here in the 2023 44Cup World Championship in the RC44 class and gained valuable experience in one of Europe’s more demanding race areas. The Black Star RC44 yacht #27 also has a special connection to the region: following her purchase and complete refit, she completed her first test sails nearby in the Solent. The waters around Cowes are therefore not entirely new to Black Star Sailing – succeeding here in the Cape 31, however, is a fresh challenge.

The Solent requires a different approach from the mainly thermal venues of the Mediterranean. Tidal streams, narrow tidal windows, short steep waves and wind patterns that can change rapidly all test teams throughout every race. Success depends not only on speed and clean manoeuvres, but equally on timing, clear communication and tactical flexibility.

That is very much part of the appeal of the UK Series. Black Star has developed its Cape 31 campaign over the winter, reshaped the crew line-up and already tested itself under racing conditions in Palma. The next step now is to convert that progress in an environment demanding different qualities from those required last season.

From an organisational perspective, the UK Series also offers clear advantages. Several events are held within close geographical range, allowing logistics, training days and equipment planning to be managed more efficiently. For a team also competing in the RC44 class, this creates valuable flexibility within a busy annual schedule.

Black Star Sailing appreciates all support on site – whether along the shoreline, in the harbour or out on the water. Those following from afar can stay up to date as usual via our Instagram channel as well as through the official Cape 31 platforms.