Design and Construction
Berkemeyer gave the Miura a swept fin keel and a skeg-hung rudder worked by tiller, under a single-spreader mast that sits relatively low for the size. The most distinguishing feature is the pronounced tumblehome at the beam, which the design uses to good effect: that curved topside gives the hull loads of strength while also opening up surprising cabin room below. The swept-up canoe stern is a deliberate trade — it makes the boat completely unable to plane and limits downwind speed, yet the same hull form reads as a very good sea boat. With a 10-foot beam, 28-foot waterline, and roughly 10,700 pounds of displacement, the Miura carries a moderate displacement by modern standards and a capsize screening figure of 1.8, which is rated good.
Rig and Handling
The sail plan is genoa-driven: the Miura carries most of its power in a large genoa with a smallish mainsail, and the low rig suits the boat's character. On the wind and in fresh to strong winds she performs amazingly well, though she is a bit sluggish in light airs. The sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 14.8 marks her as a bit under canvased, and the displacement-length number of 218 confirms the moderate build. Practical evidence of the platform's reach is clear — Bertie Reed campaigned several Miuras in local offshore races with surprising results and held the Cape Town to St Helena and back record for many years in one, while the class still often races as a class and boats like Savannah are campaigned short or single-handed in any conditions.
Performance and Reputation
Beyond local racing, the Miura built a serious offshore record. Three boats in Hout Bay Marina alone account for three circumnavigations between them, and the class is a strong contender for the argument over which yacht type holds the most circumnavigations. In handicap terms, RCYC club data shows Miuras sailing off 0.935 against an RCOD's 0.91, and the Miura outperforms that RCOD by a small margin while carrying twice the weight and offering far more room. SA Yacht Blog summed her up as an incredible allrounder for seaworthiness, seakindliness, general performance, and cruising ability — a beautiful, inexpensive, simple, rugged small yacht capable of sailing anywhere.
Accommodations
The tumblehome that stiffens the hull also pays a dividend below: the same curved shape yields loads of cabin room for a 31-footer. The boat was plainly intended as a practical cruiser and trainer rather than a racer's stripped shell — Miuras became the keelboat of choice for sailing schools, first-time keelboat owners, and budget-minded Cape to Rio aspirants, a role that presupposes a usable interior and a forgiving nature rather than spartan accommodations.
Ownership and Legacy
Production began in 1978 with more than 250 completed, mostly at Nebe in Hout Bay, and the class remains quite active today. The name itself derives from the Spanish for "fighting bull," a fitting tag for a rugged, inexpensive cruiser that has repeatedly proven itself on long passages and club racecourses alike.
The Verdict
The Miura 31 is a genuinely capable small cruiser-racer with an outsized passage-making record for its length. Its tumblehome hull is both strong and roomy, the keel-and-skeg form is a proven sea boat, and the genoa-driven rig is effective when the wind is up. Light-air sluggishness and the canoe stern's no-plane, modest-downwind profile are the clear trade-offs for that seaworthiness.
Pros
- Pronounced tumblehome delivers both hull strength and generous cabin room
- Excellent upwind and fresh-to-strong-wind performance with a good sea-boat demeanor
- Outstanding offshore pedigree, including multiple circumnavigations and a long-held passage record
- Moderate displacement and good capsize screening figure for a 31-foot cruiser
Cons
- Sluggish in light airs and a bit under canvased per sail-area-to-displacement
- Swept canoe stern prevents planing and limits downwind speed
