Four years after starting as the kid in the fleet, 18-year-old Miles Julien and his international crew completed a season-long rise to the summit at the M32 World Championship in Newport. On October 3, 2026, the team in red secured their title, having spent those years learning how to win together.
Miles Julien, alongside tactician Carlos Robles, Bernardo Freitas, Moritz Spitzauer, and Leonard Takahashi, emerged as the 2026 M32 World Champions. Their journey from perennial challengers to the team to beat was marked by resilience and teamwork.
The final race tested their resolve. Rated X initially led, forcing YoungBlood to recover from a tough start and fight their way back through the fleet to clinch the championship. “We started off a little rough after the first day. We were in fifth place, and after that the team sort of had a reset and we had to rebuild slowly,” Julien reflected. “It really came down to the last race. Rated X did a fantastic job. We really had to claw our way back. But in the end, we made it.”
The competition was fierce, and YoungBlood’s path to victory was not without its challenges. After a rocky start, they managed to regain their footing, ultimately taking the lead and defending it successfully on the final day.
The team’s connection has been a significant factor in their success. Julien recalls meeting Robles at just 13 years old and acknowledges the importance of their long-standing relationships. “We’ve been together for a really long time,” he noted. “We get along great, we always have fun, and we take it very seriously. I think that was sort of the key to our success, and not giving up even after a tough first couple of days – or years.”
YoungBlood’s journey hasn’t always been smooth. Their inaugural season was riddled with setbacks including boat issues and disappointing results. Yet, this World Championship represented a culmination of their growth as a team. “This regatta itself sort of summed up our entire time together as a team,” Julien said. “We really started from the back and had to work our way back up. It’s been tough, but I think you just can’t give up. In this fleet, anything can happen.”
This year marked a turning point for Julien and his crew. They celebrated their first regatta win in January and followed up with victories in the Miami Winter Series, Newport Summer Series, and North American Championship. Arriving at Worlds as one of the favourites, they initially faced adversity but regrouped and proved their mettle.
As Robles advised, “You sometimes have to be a goldfish. Forget about it and move on.” They did just that, steadily rebuilding through the competition and ultimately taking the championship lead, which they defended successfully.
The M32 Class continues to thrive, with more racing events on the horizon. Future competitions include three events in the British Virgin Islands, a Newport summer, and the 2027 M32 World Championship in Miami. The growth of the class is underpinned by a vibrant community of sailors and the spirit of camaraderie that defines the M32 fleet.
2026 M32 World Championship Roster
🥇 YoungBlood: Miles Julien (USA), Carlos Robles (ESP/USA), Bernardo Freitas (POR), Moritz Spitzauer (AUT), Leonard Takahashi (NZL)
🥈 Rated X: Charlie Julien (USA), David Gilmour (SWE), Jeff McCooey (USA), Julius Hallström (SWE), Rhys Mara (SWE)
🥉Tuuci: Cy Thompson (ISV), Tom Burton (AUS), C.T. Olander (USA), John Wallace (USA), Charlie McHugh (USA)
Midtown Racing: Larry Phillips (USA), Sam Hallowell (USA), Mark Spearman (AUS), Mark Bulkeley (GBR), Malcolm Lamphere (USA)
Surge: Mitchell Callahan (USA) / Ryan McKillen (USA), Jeremy Wilmot (AUS/USA), Ted Hackney (AUS/USA), Sam Loughborough (USA), Will Tiller (NZL)
ChinaOne.Ningbo: Paul Campbell-James (GBR), Garth Ellingham (NZL), Louis Brake (AUS), Jake Lidell (AUS), Liu Ming (CHN)
Pursuit: Bill Ruh (USA), Andrew Campbell (USA), Mac Agnese (USA), Peter Kinney (USA), Scott Ewing (USA)
Dingbat: Bobby Julien (USA), Victor Diaz de Leon (USA), Tom Ramshaw (CAN), Max Salminen (SWE), Alan Johnson (USA)
Cape Crow Vikings: Carl Svensson (SWE), Sam Gilmour (SWE), Jakob Wilson (SWE), Rasmus Alnebeck (SWE), Hugo Christensson (SWE)
FinalFinal: Jon Desmond (USA), Chris Steele (NZL), Tom Loughborough (USA), Ricky McGarvie (AUS), Brian Porter (USA)
#M32World #YoungBlood #MilesJulien #SailingVictory #NewportSailing
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