M32 - Underdogs No Longer

TUUCI Racing has been crowned the 2025 M32 North American Champion in Newport, R.I., marking a significant achievement after a year and a half of hard work and learning. C.T. Olander, a team member, expressed his emotions, stating, “We just showed everybody that you can start at the bottom and work your way to the top. Tears came to my eyes.”

With team members Cy Thompson, Phil Robertson, John Wallace, and Charlie McHugh, TUUCI Racing demonstrated remarkable improvement throughout the summer, culminating in a strong performance during the championship. Olander noted, “We’ve gotten last. We’ve done well. We really just put it together this summer,” attributing their success to extra time spent honing their skills in Newport.

During the championship weekend, the team excelled with excellent starts, clean sailing, and strategic manoeuvring, achieving 15 champagne races under ideal Newport conditions, which included a mix of heavy and light air.

In addition to TUUCI Racing’s victory, Charlie Julien’s Rated X won the overall title in the M32 Newport Summer Series. This series spanned three regattas throughout June, July, and August, with a consistent performance leading to their success. M32 Principal Race Officers Mattias Dahlstrom and Carol Ewing managed the races with professionalism.

The M32 Class has had a busy summer, featuring a full calendar of coastal races in the U.S. and Europe. Highlights included events like the New York Yacht Club Around-the-Island Race and the Edgartown Round-the-Island Race, with Doug Newhouse’s Yonder taking line honours in Edgartown. Upcoming races include the Conanicut Yacht Club 98th Annual Around-the-Island Race.

European events saw notable participation, with Peter Warrer competing in Denmark’s Fyn Rundt and Johnie Berntsson’s team taking line honours at Tjörn Runt in Sweden. Bruno Zorzan’s Blue Beast is set for the Lake Garda Centomiglia, one of Europe’s renowned distance races.

A highlight of the summer was the Picasso Cup, which featured seven teams sailing M32s in the Swedish archipelago, culminating in a dramatic comeback win for Harold Vermeulen’s Leeloo.

Thursday nights in Newport offered the M32 Pro-Am Summer Race Series, allowing newcomers to race alongside seasoned professionals in an informal, community-focused atmosphere.

New teams joined the M32 community this summer, including Doug Newhouse’s Yonder, Jon Desmond’s Final Final, Kyle Kandt’s GT11, and Charlie Barmonde’s Arranque, contributing fresh energy to the competition.

The M32 North American Championship podium featured TUUCI Racing in first place, followed by Rated X in second and Convexity in third. The M32 Summer Series saw Rated X claim first, with Dingbat in second and TUUCI Racing in third.

TUUCI Racing’s partnership with The Ultimate Umbrella Company has been pivotal. Olander stated, “They’ve given us a ton of support throughout the journey, and now we look forward to the World Championship in Miami.”

For further details, see the full press release or visit M32World.com for results and photos.