Master of the Ocean 2026 Opens in Cabarete

Master of the Ocean 2026 is underway in Cabarete, on the Dominican Republic’s northern coast, with athletes from more than a dozen countries competing across Kitesurf, Wing Foil, Surf, Stand Up Paddle (SUP) and Windsurf.

The 21st edition officially opened on September 16 with a ceremony at Coconuts Restaurant at Hideaway Beach, bringing together competitors, organizers, officials and guests before competition moved into the water.

Cabarete Competition Adjusts to Changing Conditions

Unstable northeast winds and passing rain disrupted the initial schedule, requiring organizers to adjust the day’s program. As conditions improved, competitors completed the first rounds in Kitesurf, Wing Foil, Surf and SUP in waves ranging from 1 to 3 feet.

The competition format adds another challenge beyond individual discipline skills. Four athletes compete in each heat, with the top two advancing, while the overall event requires competitors to move between five different water sports and adapt their techniques to changing wind and ocean conditions.

That multidisciplinary format is central to the event’s identity in Cabarete, a destination known internationally for wind- and water-based sports. Competitors must combine technical ability with the flexibility to perform across different equipment and conditions.

International and Dominican Athletes Advance

France’s Maxime L’Huillier, the individual Overall champion in 2024 and 2025, won the first Kitesurf heat. England’s Tom Court, Dominican Joselito del Rosario and Germany’s Lucas Matthes also secured wins in their respective opening heats.

L’Huillier and Court carried their strong starts into Wing Foil, while Jan Malte Claus and Matthes won the other opening heats in the discipline.

Surfing produced victories for Mad Max Tullet, Court, Claus and Dominican competitor Francis Gonzalez. In SUP, L’Huillier, Peru’s Deni Blondet, Dominican athlete Sammy Perez Hults and Gonzalez won the first four heats.

Windsurfing was also launched after stronger winds arrived, although official results remained pending after conditions weakened again.

A Five-Discipline Event in the Dominican Republic

The competition combines five disciplines that place different technical demands on athletes. Kitesurf and Wing Foil depend heavily on wind management, while Surf and SUP place greater emphasis on wave conditions and board control. Windsurfing adds another wind-powered discipline to the overall challenge.

For the Dominican Republic, the event also brings international attention to Cabarete’s established water sports scene. The competition combines athletic activity with the area’s beach culture, music and tourism environment, providing an international platform for a destination closely associated with ocean sports.

Competition is continuing in Cabarete as athletes progress through the different disciplines and organizers respond to the changing wind and wave conditions.