This has already been achieved by its bigger sister, the 9.56 metre Cape 31, which is often referred to as "the little TP-52" and has quickly established itself as a strikes one design at a high performance level with top fields, especially in England, France, South Africa and the USA. There are also regatta activities with the Cape 31 in Australia and Hong Kong.
The Cape Performance Sailing shipyard in South Africa is now presenting a smaller version of the racing machine in continuation of the sporty concept. With a beam of 2.55 metres, a lifting keel and attached rudder blade, the Cape 26 is easy to trailer and can also be lowered in and out of the water via the slip ramp. The long bowsprit can be easily folded up or removed completely for this purpose and for manoeuvres in the harbour. In addition, the lightweight two-sailed mast made of carbon fibre can be easily raised and lowered by hand. What's more, the boat, complete with rig and trailer, fits into a container for easy transport to Europe or overseas, for example.
Teamwork is required
The design of the Cape 26 comes from the Mark Mills Design studio in Ireland. The concept is for the Cape 26 to be sailed by a crew of four, who sit on the high edge with their legs in the cockpit. This means that extreme "hiking" as in many sports boat classes should not be possible. Instead, all four co-sailors should also actively participate in the cross to make the boat fast. The design in the cockpit is special, with the stepless transition from the cockpit floor to the foredeck - the so-called "Mills Ramp Deck".
There is no actual companionway, but there is a watertight hatch cover on the cockpit floor. Accordingly, the boat remains empty inside. The 80 square metre gennaker is set from a so-called "launcher" and attached to the almost two metre long bowsprit.
The hull and deck of the Cape 26 are laminated as GRP sandwich constructions with epoxy resin. The rig, keel shaft and rudder blade are made of carbon fibre. The shipyard has also already named a price for early buyers: the "Early Bird" offer currently amounts to 118,750 euros net or 141,310 euros including 19% VAT. This basic price does not yet include the sails, a trailer, the transport tarpaulins and the outboard motor.
Technical data Cape 26
- Hull length: 7.80 m
- Overall length with bowsprit: 9.68 m
- Waterline length: 7.65 m
- Width: 2.55 m
- Draught with lifting keel: 1.25 m - 2.05 m
- Weight: 1,050 kg (ready to sail)
- Mainsail: 26.10 m2
- Genoa: 16.60 m2
- Spinnaker: 80.20 m
- Motorisation: Outboard motor / petrol or electric
- Designer: Mark Mills Design
