The M32 World Championship has a new leader. Miles Julien’s YoungBlood climbed to the top Friday after a heavy-air day near Halfway Rock that delivered some of the most dramatic racing of the week.

The first four races were sailed in 12-16 knots before the breeze built to 16-20 for the finale, producing near capsizes, near collisions (just inches apart) and plenty of stories to trade at the social event once everyone made it back to the dock.

YoungBlood came into Worlds carrying the strongest regular-season résumé in the fleet. They won the Miami Winter Series, Newport Summer Series and North American Championship, then opened this championship with a dominant win in Race 1.

By the end of that same day, they had fallen back to fifth overall.

That is where the story gets interesting.

Thursday was a rebuild. Today was the climb. YoungBlood stayed composed through the pressure and bookended the day with race wins, moving from third overall into the championship lead with four races remaining.

That kind of reset is part of what makes the M32 format so good. Five short races a day means one bad result does not have to define the day. Shake it off, get back on the line, and try again.

2026 M32 World Championship day 3 © Hannah Lee Noll

The defending World Champions from Surge did exactly that today as well, putting together their strongest day of the Worlds and jumping back into the fight.

FinalFinal had a breakthrough of its own with its best day yet in the M32 fleet. Not only did they win a race (their second one ever in this fleet), but they also earned third place on the day.

Tuuci, which led the championship through the first two days, slipped to third. But they were still smiling at the party afterward as the fleet gathered for Little Fish Tacos & Ceviche. On a heavy air day with five races, everyone has plenty to talk about.

2026 M32 World Championship day 3 – photo © Hannah Lee Noll

After three of four days, YoungBlood leads. Rated X, Tuuci, Surge, and ChinaOne.Ningbo all still within striking distance. Four races remain.

Racing begins at 11 a.m. Saturday near Halfway Rock.

One day left. One World Champion will be crowned. YoungBlood and Tuuci have yet to reach this elusive prize. Surge, Rated X, and ChinaOne have all tasted this victory before and won’t be easy to subdue.

 

by M32 World