[7][8] The boat has a draft of 8.04 ft (2.45 m) with the standard keel and is fitted with a Japanese Yanmar 2YM diesel engine of 15 hp (11 kW) with a saildrive for docking and manoeuvring.

[1][9] One of the design constraints was that it was made to fit inside a standard high-cube container for global transport.

[11] By April 2023 there were racing fleets in South Africa and Europe, with moves underway to establish it in North America as well.

It was first raced in the United States at the Southernmost Regatta in Key West, Florida in January 2023, where Lucas Masiello of Yachting World reports that "the class stole the show.

"[4] Veteran ocean racer Dave Swete said of the design, "you can get this boat straight out of the box and go and win races.

The Cape 31 won overall in Les Voiles de St Tropez last year, as well as a whole host of local events in the Solent ... We can take this boat out in 25 knots wind against tide in the Solent and have a really nice day, then come back in and the boat's in one piece, it's not full of water.