Cape2Rio Yacht Race
Cape2Rio Yacht Race takes place Next edition to be confirmed, likely 2028 or 2029 (the most recent race finished in early 2026) in Cape Town, South Africa. The dress code is Offshore foul-weather gear for crews; smart casual with a windproof layer for spectators on the exposed Table Bay waterfront. Typical cost ranges from 400 to 1400 EUR per person.
The Southern Hemisphere's great South Atlantic crossing, roughly 3,300 nautical miles from Cape Town's Table Bay to Guanabara Bay in Rio de Janeiro, first sailed in 1971. It runs irregularly, roughly every two to three years, and the start beneath Table Mountain is one of ocean racing's genuinely cinematic moments. Scheduling is the catch - the next edition has not been publicly confirmed, so treat any date you see quoted as provisional.
- When
- Next edition to be confirmed, likely 2028 or 2029 (the most recent race finished in early 2026)
- Where
- Cape Town, South Africa
- Dress code
- Offshore foul-weather gear for crews; smart casual with a windproof layer for spectators on the exposed Table Bay waterfront
- Cost
- Typical cost ranges from 400 to 1400 EUR per person.
- Weather
- 20 - 27C, Cape Town high summer, often blustery with the southeasterly Cape Doctor
- When to book
- Watch the Royal Cape Yacht Club for the next edition announcement; Cape Town over Christmas and New Year needs booking 6 months out
- Getting there
- CPT (Cape Town), about 25 min to the V&A Waterfront and Royal Cape Yacht Club
- Where to stay
- The Silo Hotel, The Table Bay Hotel, Gorgeous George by Design Hotels
- Official site
- https://cape2riorace.com/
How to attend
Watching the start is free from Table Bay, the V&A Waterfront breakwater and the Mouille Point promenade. Sailing it requires an offshore-qualified crew and a boat entered through the Royal Cape Yacht Club, and berths on entered boats are usually arranged privately through the club rather than sold openly. Confirm the next running with the RCYC directly before making travel plans, as the race does not follow a fixed annual cycle.
There is no ticket - the start is free to watch from Table Bay and the V&A Waterfront - and in any case the next edition has not been scheduled yet, so check with the Royal Cape Yacht Club before planning travel.
Insider tip
If you want to actually sail it, several entered boats take paying crew to help fund the campaign - approach the Royal Cape Yacht Club noticeboard rather than waiting for a public listing.
Get inside Cape2Rio Yacht Race
Booking matters here: watch the Royal Cape Yacht Club for the next edition announcement; Cape Town over Christmas and New Year needs booking 6 months out. Members track that window, what it really costs, and 573 more events across the season.
Free while in beta. One email when your invitation is ready, nothing else.