Behind the Scenes, June 2026

Sharon Green

The walls of Scuttlebutt HQ include the Ultimate Sailing calendar by Sharon Green, with this behind-the-scenes story by Sharon detailing the June 2026 images.

The June spread in the 2026 Ultimate Sailing Calendar follows the Cape 31 Class across two of North America’s premier sailing venues—Key West and San Francisco Bay.

At the top of the page, Pacific Yankee, led by owner and helmsman Drew Freides, powers upwind through the turquoise waters of Key West. Crew stacked on the rail and eyes locked forward, every adjustment matters.

Designed by renowned naval architect Mark Mills, the Cape 31 rewards precision, teamwork, and tactical excellence, making for incredibly close racing where positions can change in an instant.

June 2026

A champion sailor and one of the most accomplished amateur helmsmen in the sport, Freides has built a reputation for assembling talented teams and competing at the highest levels of one-design racing. Campaigning under the Pacific Yankee banner, he has enjoyed success across multiple classes, with the Cape 31 representing the latest chapter in that ongoing story.

The boat’s name, Pacific Yankee, is a fitting reflection of Freides himself—an East Coast native who made his home on the West Coast. Like its owner, the campaign draws from a broad sailing background while embracing new challenges and opportunities on some of the world’s most competitive racecourses.

One of the joys of photographing the Cape 31 fleet is its personality. Owners have embraced bold hull colors, custom graphics, and distinctive designs that make each boat instantly recognizable. Combined with the boat’s athletic performance, the result is a class that is as exciting to photograph as it is to race.

The below image captures fellow Cape 31 competitor Warrior Won as they surf downwind beneath a full spinnaker in classic San Francisco conditions, providing a glimpse into the depth and competitiveness of the fleet. Together, the images capture why the Cape 31 has become one of the hottest classes in sailing today.