SV Solstice // Cape George 31
Offshore Sailing Dinghy — the SV Solstice is fast and sturdy Cape George Cutter 31, she’s full-keeled and ready for deep-ocean sailing — configured ergonomically for short-handed sailing and rigged smartly to handle any sea condition from calm-seas to Gales.
Solstice is built strong from design-concept to completion — created by hand from a Cape George 31 bare hull by Paul Exner.
Paul Exner affectionately refers to his SV Solstice as an offshore sailing dinghy — because the design characteristics of the Cape George 31 offer the allure of “dinghy-like” performance and offshore safety.
Rarely do the words “dinghy” and “full keel” describe an ocean-going sailboat; but this contrast of ideals embodies the Cape George 31 architecture — its compact size, tall rig, and slippery hull-shape produce a unique vessel that handles responsively by tiller-steering, while sporting a fully configurable rigging setup and sail inventory for all sailing conditions. The SV Solstice is a specialist’s sailing machine that “breaks free” underway and entices her crew to engage in the thrill of SAILING.
“The small boat makes the sailor…” SV Solstice’s hybrid-design makes her ideal for sailors wanting an immersed sail-training and seamanship experience — ONLY found aboard a small and responsive bluewater sailing machine.
From a Bare Hull … Paul Exner hand-built SV Solstice from a Cape George 31 bare-hull laid in 1991 by Cecil M. Lange & Son — Paul completed the construction in 5,000 hours and launched this labour-of-love as Solstice in 2002.
The hull of SV Solstice is solid Glass Reinforced Plastic constructed in a two-part mold using woven-roving and 100% vinylester resin. Paul Exner paid $9,800 for his CG31 hull in 1991 in lieu of commissioning a completed CG31 from Cecil Lange & Son builders for $180k (the sail-away price in 1991).
In 2021, Cape George Marine Works of Port Townsend, WA builds a complete Cape George 31 for $750k U.S. The Cape George Cutter line is worth every penny invested by owners looking for a boat of impeccable quality, and built by some of the best boat-builders in the world today.
“The care I devoted to building Solstice during her 10.5 years under construction (1991-2002) was over-the-top! Every screw … every joined-assembly of interior cabinetry … every detail, down to the canted-angle of the port holes was painstakingly considered. Solstice is a custom offshore sailing dinghy; and, a seamanship classroom — there is no finer vessel for skipper-level bluewater sailing instruction.” Paul Exner
Ferenc Mate wrote about the Cape George 31 in his book From a Bare Hull … Paul first encountered the CG31 in this classic book.
Paul instantly fell in love with the Cape George 31’s naval architecture, aesthetics, and sea-kindly combination of hull-form & sail plan. In a leap of faith, without ever stepping-aboard a CG31 and banking his future on a favorable gut-feeling that the CG31 beheld all the right characteristics for his dream boat, Exner placed trust in his judgement and commissioned a new a bare hull from Cecil M. Lange & Son — by September 1991 the bare hull of SV Solstice was laid and Exner began the boat-building process.
Based on a gut feeling: “the lines” of the Cape George 31 scaled-up beautifully and Solstice became an offshore sailing winner! Today, Paul is confident he made a great decision by choosing to build, own, and sail the Cape George Cutter 31.
PHOTO: SV Solstice exiting the Rainbow Barn in July 2002; she spent 10.5 years under construction in this old dairy barn in Middleton, Wisconsin, U.S.A.
SV Solstice // Cutter-Rig // Full-Keel
The cutter-rig — full-keel combo offers tremendous flexibility to sail a wide variety of complex sea-states. Solstice is setup for short or single-hand operation to benefit sailors seeking hands-on experimentation and practice aboard a safe and comfortable passage making vessel. She carries a full quiver of sails to handle any wind condition … she’s an offshore machine that’s fast in light winds and heavy-air alike, capable of surfing down waves to leave her quarter-wake behind—she’s equally at home ghosting-along on a calm sea with gentle winds.
The running rigging setup aboard Solstice is smartly laid-out and with appropriate mechanical-advantage for able-bodied sailors, with consideration for ergonomics. Lewmar Ocean Series, self-tailing winches are installed as primary and secondary winches in the cockpit, and on the mast for halyards and reefing. The yankee headsail flown from the bowsprit sets on a Profurl furler controlled from the cockpit. Her Monitor wind-vane autopilot by Scanmar is superb equipment for long passages. Hands-on steering is made via a laminated tiller of Ash-wood; Solstice’s helms-person can glean that extra sensitivity required to coax her into a perfect sailing groove.
A short-handed team of three sailors (including Paul) is accommodated aboard Solstice. The main saloon provides a spacious interior for debrief meetings and sleeping berths for two sailors in separate bunks made comfortable by 6” foam and 6.5’ length. The forward cabin is ideal for one sailor amidst the sail inventory, which can be converted to a double bunk. A single head supports the crew. A 1,000 watt Inverter provides AC power to charge phones, laptops, and camera batteries.
SV Solstice is an ongoing life-accomplishment for Paul Exner since 1991—that’s nearly 30 years that the same owner/builder has sailed the same boat! Who other than Paul Exner has shown that level of tenacity, fortitude, and commitment?
LINE DRAWING: This is the standard layout for the Cape George 31. Although SV Solstice has a “short cabin-house” the interior layout of Solstice is nearly identical to this drawing.
Cape George 31 — SV Solstice Windvane
VIDEO: Windvane sailing aboard the full keel, Cape George Cutter 31. Observe the speed and handling of the SV Solstice with optimized windvane settings for heavy weather, closehauled sailing.
Cape George 31 — Storm Trysail Sailing
SV Solstice charging upwind in the British Virgin Islands a few months before she was hammered by Hurricane IRMA and subsequently rebuilt by Paul Exner who then sailed her away from the Caribbean through the Panama Canal to Hawaii where Paul continues to help people (literally) go anywhere—by sail—aboard their own boat, just like Paul does for himself and for hundreds of sailors and boat owners that Paul has coached.