Governor"s Cup (Cape to St Helena Race) 2026
Date: 27 December 2026
Location: False Bay Yacht Club, Simon's Town, South Africa
Organizer: False Bay Yacht Club
The Governor's Cup is a biennial ocean race from Simon's Town, near Cape Town, to James Bay on the island of St Helena, roughly 1,700 miles across the South Atlantic. It is organized by False Bay Yacht Club and starts in the last days of December, so crews see in the new year at sea. The course is mostly downwind in the southeast trades, which makes it one of the more forgiving long ocean races and a popular first taste of proper bluewater passage-making for South African crews. The destination is half the point. St Helena is one of the most remote inhabited islands on earth, reachable only by ship until its airport opened, and the arrival of a race fleet is a genuine occasion in Jamestown. The 2026 edition starts from Simon's Town at the end of December, continuing a race tradition that has run on and off since the 1990s.
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More sailing events in South Africa
- Vasco da Gama Ocean Race 2026 — 23 May 2026 · Durban, South Africa
- Lipton Challenge Cup 2026 — 25 August 2026 · Cape Town, South Africa
- African Boating Conference — 20 October 2026 · Cape Town, South Africa
See all sailing events in South Africa, or browse the world map to discover regattas, open days and sailing festivals near you — and explore yacht clubs, marinas and sailing schools along the way.
Sailing nearby
Planning to attend? These clubs, marinas, schools and other sailing places are close to Simon's Town and worth a visit while you are in the area:
- False Bay Yacht Club — Yacht Clubs, Simon's Town, South Africa
- False Bay Yacht Club Sailing Academy — Yacht Clubs, Simon's Town, South Africa
- South African Naval Museum — Maritime Museums, Simon's Town, South Africa
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