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M32 World Championship at Lake Garda, Italy – Day 2
2-8 September 2024
The M32 World Championship is intensifying, with the top three teams – Youngblood, Miles Julien, Surge, Ryan McKillen, and Rated X, Jake Julien – all tied at 17 points.
Each of the five races featured a different winner, emphasizing the competitiveness of the event. Spectacular sailing conditions were provided by Lake Garda, with sunny weather and winds from the southerly Ora reaching 15-20 knots. Right behind the leaders are race winners Extreme2, skippered by Dan Cheresh, and Gravedigger, led by James Prendergast, adding to the drama of the title race.
After a day filled with gray clouds and storms, the weather cleared, allowing sailors to enjoy their cappuccinos at the yacht club before the races began promptly at 1 PM. The classic Riva course took competitors near the mountainside, where strategic lane choices were crucial. Although the course generally favored the mountainside, there were ample opportunities for lead changes. Teams that encountered difficult starts battled back, making for an exhilarating day of racing.
“You cannot beat Lake Garda,” stated Extreme2 skipper Dan Cheresh, who is just one point behind the leading trio. Gravedigger’s skipper, James Prendergast, remarked on the rising competitiveness within the fleet: “The whole fleet is becoming denser; we see many lead changes and improved starts.” At the top of the leaderboard is Youngblood, with Miles Julien, who enjoys the breathtaking Riva scenery: “The racing is incredible. Even if you are not winning, it’s almost distracting; you want to look around all the time.”
Championship nerves were evident at the starting line, resulting in two clean starts but with eight boats marked OCS across the three other races (2+0+4+0+2). The M32 class employs the Vakaros automated OCS system, which provides teams with real-time data on time and distance to the line, as well as immediate OCS alerts on their displays. “An M32 start is intense, and automating the call of the line ensures consistency,” said Principal Race Officer Mattias Dahlstrom.
As the Championship continues, Saturday’s forecast indicates the same stellar conditions as today. Teams are preparing for more thrilling racing in Lake Garda’s famed Ora wind. By Sunday, the M32 class will crown its 2024 World Champion, and with competition this close, every race will count. An intense finish is expected at this remarkable event!
Results after Day 2:
| Pos | Bow | Team | Skipper | R1 | R2 | R3 | R4 | R5 | PP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 71 C | YoungBlood | Miles Julien | 6 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 17 |
| 2 | 69 C | Rated X | Jake Julien | 2 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 17 | |
| 3 | 63 C | Surge | Ryan McKillen | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 17 | |
| 4 | 52 C | Extreme2 | Dan Cheresh | 3 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 18 | |
| 5 | 42 C | Gravedigger | James Prendergast | 4 | 3 | 8 | 9 | 1 | 25 | |
| 6 | 65 C | Pursuit | Bill Ruh | 9 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 31 |
| 7 | 70 C | Dingbat | Bobby Julien | 5 | 4 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 33 | |
| 8 | 54 C | Lucky Dog | Travis Weisleder | 8 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 35 |
| 9 | 47 C | Warrer Racing | Peter Warrer | 10 | 8 | 6 | 10 | 10 | 44 | |
| 10 | 51 C | Vitamina Cetilar | Andrea LaCorte | 7 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 9 | 46 | |
| 11 | 77 C | Vikings | Hakan Svensson | 11 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 2 | 52 |
M32 World Championship 2024 Crew List:
Rated X USA #69
Jake Julien USA
Keith Swinton AUS
Rhys Mara AUS
Julius Hallström SWE
Jeff McCoey USA
Dingbat USA #70
Bobby Julian USA
Tom Burton AUS
Ed Powys GBR
Will Tiller NZL
Lewis Brake AUS
Surge USA #63
Ryan McKillen USA
Taylor Canfield USA
Sam Loughborough USA
Ted Hackney USA
Luke Payne AUS
Youngblood USA #71
Miles Julien, USA
Carlos Robles ESP
Bernardo Freitas POR
Dan Morris USA
Moritz Spitzhauer AUT
Pursuit USA #65
William Ruh USA
Charlie Smythe USA
Rome Kirby USA
Chris Steel NZL
Cooper Dressler USA
Cape Crow Vikings Sweden #77
Hakan Svensson SWE
Dave Doucett USA
Andre Henriksson SWE
Hans Wallen SWE
Jakob Wilson SWE
Lucky Dog USA #54
Travis Weisleder USA
Jeremy Wilmot USA
John Bowden USA
Mark Bulkley GBR
Stewart Dodson NZL
Extreme2 USA #52
Dan Cheresh USA
Morgan Larson USA
Luke Muller USA
Scott Ewing USA
Mac Agnese USA
Gravedigger USA #42
James Prendergast USA
Nick Hutton GBR
Mark Spearman AUS
Martin Kirketerp DEN
Nicholas Heiner NED
Vitamina ITA #51
Andrea LaCorte ITA
Matteo De Luca ITA
Federico Benini ITA
Andrea Spagnoli ITA
Matteo Ferraglia ITA
Warrer Racing DEN #47
Peter Warrer DEN
Jonas Warrer DEN
Daniel Bjørnholt DEN
Gustav Schwennesen DEN
Mads Fuglbjerg DEN
2025 in the Making
Boat owners gathered to discuss plans for 2025. The final decision will be made during the world championships next month. Hosting the championship in Europe this year means it will swing back to North America next year. The Miami winter series dates have already been finalized with some adjustments to accommodate the SailGP schedule, which affects more than half of the fleet.
Join the Fun
The most common response to “Why did you start racing the M32?” is, “I tried it, and then I was hooked.” The M32 Demo Boat offers a perfect introduction to M32 racing, tailored to your background in other racing classes. Whether you have your own racing team and need tips on M32 specifics or require assistance in setting up an experienced crew for multihull racing, a demo boat will be available for new teams at all 2024 regattas through the M32 builder, Aston Harald.
Source
Ava Thompson, a skilled sailor and marine journalist from Auckland, has developed a deep connection to the ocean that guides her work. With a degree in Marine Journalism from the University of Auckland, Ava is known for her engaging and detailed storytelling. Her writing brings to life the thrill of sailing and the unique maritime culture of New Zealand, earning her recognition in the sailing community. Outside of her journalism, Ava enjoys exploring the rugged coastlines of New Zealand and competing in local regattas, always in search of her next seafaring adventure.
